Bi-sexual love

Excerpts from the Professional Press oh the work of

DR. WM. STEKEL

We have lacked thus far a systematic clinical application of Freudian
analysis. Stekel's work nils this need. Jung, in Mediz. Klinik.

... A standard work; a milestone in the psychiatric and psycho-
therapeutic literature.

Gen. Sanitatsrat Dr. Gerster, in Die Nbbb Generation.

It would be regrettable if the work did not attract fully the atten-
tion of the scientific world; its deep sobriety and the fulness of its
details render it a treasury of information, primarily for the physician,
but, in large measure, of interest also to the educationist, the minister,
the teacher and, not least, to the student of criminology. . . .

Horch, in Arohiv f. Kkiminalogie.

These case histories will be read with great interest by everyone,
including those who are inclined to maintain a sceptical attitude towards
psychoanalysis. Eulenburg, in Memzinische Elinik.

Stekel's work teaches practitioners a great many things they did not
know before, particularly about the significance of psychology and sexual
science in the practice of medicine.

Hitsehmawn, in Internat. Zbitschrift f. Psychoanalyse.

It is Stekel's extraordinary merit that he compels us to take into
account a pressing mass of data which he brings to light with a scien-
tific zeal which is unfortunately still rare, — facts and observations so
penetrating, so true to life that these often render unnecessary any
formal statement of the obvious deductions which flow from them.

Die Nede Generation.

The most modern problems are considered, new viewpoints are
brought out, while the excesses in the technique and interpretation of
the earlier stages of psychoanalysis are avoided.

Kermauner, in Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift.

All in all, Stekel's is a work for which I bespeak the widest inter-
est not only among physicians, but also among jurists, educationists,
sociologists and ministers. Only an understanding of the mental life
of the individual will yield a proper view of our social life.

Liepmann, in Zeitschript p. Sexualwibsensoh.

The work is a treasury for all who have occasion to probe the depths
of human life and should be a source of considerable information and
stimulus to every jurist who takes in earnest his professional duties.
Geh. Justizrat Dr. Horeh, inARCHiv F. Kruiinalogib.

It does not matter from what angle the work of Stekel is ap-
proached. Any consideration of it reveals rich material. Stekel is
a writer who handles his subjects in a lavish manner ; lavish, but with
that restraint which bends all to the urgency of his themes. He evi-
dently approaches his clinical work with the same exuberant interest.
There he reaps through psychoanalysis a rich harvest of results. He has
collected these results and presented them for the dissemination of such
knowledge of the sexual disturbances as he thus obtained. Facts are there
in great number. They cannot be gainsaid. Stekel's own evaluation of
such facts and his earnest plea for their consideration, both by the medi-
cal profession and by the society of men and women where these facts
exist, can speak only for themselves to the truly conscientious reader.
There is not much in these books that the psychotherapeutist can afford
to pass over. New York. Medical Journal.

BISEXUAL LOVE

THE HOMOSEXUAL NEUEOSIS

BY

DR, WILLIAM STEKEL

(Vienna)

Authorized translation by

JAMES S. VAN TESLAAR, M.D.

(For sale only to Members of the
Medical Profession.)

BOSTON
RICHARD G. BADGER

THE GORHAM PRESS

COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY RlCHABD G. BADOEB

All Rights Reserved

Made in the United States of America

The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A.

Preface

The present work is the English Version of a part
of one of the volumes in the author's massive series
of clinical studies bearing the generic title, Disor-
ders of the Instincts and Emotions and covering the
whole range of the so-called Parapathic Maladies.
The translation represents approximately one-half
of the Homosexualitat of the volume entitled Onanie
und Homosexualitat, and bearing the sub-title, Die
HomosexueUe Neurose. The balance of the Homo-
sexual Neurosis and the author's clinical study of
Autoerotism are also translated and will appear
shortly.

It is the author's intention, and mine as his trans-
lator, to issue an English version of all the volumes
in this comprehensive series. In addition to the
subjects covered in the present volume and in the
two volumes to follow shortly, the Disorders of the
Instincts and the Emotions include the Anxiety
States, Female Frigidity, Male Impotence, Infantil-
ism (including Exhibitionism and Fetichism), the
Compulsion Neuroses and Morbid Doubts. The
range of the subjects and the plan of the volumes
already published show that the series as conceived

iv Preface

by the author forms a complete clinical account of
the psychogenetic disorders, and represents the most
recent development of scientific research. Since the
genetic study of these parapathic maladies involves
a thorough understanding of the facts of sexual life
Dr. Stekel's works on the Disorders of the Instincts
and the Emotions constitute incidentally the latest
practical reference Handbook of Sexual Science in
the light of our newer knowledge and should prove
also on that score of inestimable value to the med-
ical and the allied learned professions.

The absence of formal systematic instruction in
the Principles and Practice of Psychoanalysis in
spite of the wide interest that the subject has de-
servedly aroused in our midst is highly regrettable,
the more so since the lack of systematic instruction
in our country deprives the older practitioners as
well as the oncoming generations of physicians of an
opportunity to familiarize themselves with this most
important branch of therapy. Even though the
curriculum of instruction in our schools, and par-
ticularly in our medical colleges, is admittedly bur-
dened with a bewildering plethora of other branches
of instruction, it is inconceivable that our colleges,
our hospitals and psychiatric institutes, and our
other institutions of higher learning will long con-
tinue to neglect a subject of such vital importance
as psychotherapy and re-education, now that the
subject has been placed, at last, upon a solid basis

Preface v

through the application of the psychobiotic and
genetic methods of approach. But it will probably
take considerable time before competent instruction
to fill the need will be available.

It appears therefore highly desirable that an
English version of Dr. Stekel's works should make
their appearance at this time. For in the absence of
formal instruction his clinical studies form an excel-
lent substitute, perhaps the most suitable means
available for post-graduate instruction in the clin-
ical aspects of Psychoanalysis. And should system-
atic courses be made available in the near future,
in response to the urgent need, oUr instructors and
students alike will undoubtedly find the Stekel
series most valuable aids for study and guidance.

In a letter received from Dr. Stekel while this
work was going through the press he states that a
new edition of Onanie und Homosexudlitat is being
issued in the original, bearing a dedication to the
present translator.

v. T.
Brookline, Mass.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER FAGB

I Krafft-Ebing considers onanism the cause of homo-
sexuality — Confusion of cause and effect — The
views of Krafft-Ebing — The views of Moll — of
Havelock Ellis — of Bloch — of Magnus Hirschfeld
— How is the diagnosis established? — The funda-
mental bi-sexuality of all persons — Relation of
neurosis and homosexuality — The family of the
homosexual— The views of Bloch on the problem
— The influence of the psyche on the organism —
Wish as active factor of the psyche — My theory
The theories of Kiernan, Chevalier and Lom-
broso — The neurotic as a retrograded type — Early
awakening of sexuality 11

II The development of sexuality — the bi-sexual ideal
of all persons — The fundamental law of sexuality
— The r61e of homosexuality in neurosis — Woman-
ly men and mannish women — Gerontophilia —
Love of prostitutes — The significance of sexual
symbols — Various masks of homosexuality— Trans-
vestites — A case of Transvestism — The signifi-
cance of the hose as a symbol — Love at first sight
— The critical age — The pleasure seeker — The
case of a man passive through the critical age
— Neurotic types of homosexuality — The Don
Juan type — Psychoanalysis of a Don Juan —
— Passionate falling in love during advanced age,
significant — Analysis of a Don Juan .... 55

III Diagnosis of Satyriasis— Priapism — A case of Saty-
riasis — A second case of Satyriasis — A case of
vii

viii Contents

CHAPTER PA8D

nymphomania — Proof "that the cravings repre-
sented by this condition are traceable to the un-
gratifled homoseual instinct 129

IV Description of Don Juan types who are satisfied
with conquest and forego physical possession —
An unlucky hero, whose love adventures are in-
terfered with by gastric derangements — A would-
be Messalina who hesitates on account of vomit-
ing spells — Influence of religion on neurosis . . 175

V Resistance of homosexuals against cure and their
pride in their condition — Acquired" -vs. inherited
— Insanity and alcoholism betray the inner man
— Three cases by Colla iEustrating behavior dur-
ing alcoholic intoxication — Observations of Numa
Praetonis — The case of Hugo Deutsch— Views of
Juliusburger — Two personal observations — A case
of Moll — Views of Fleischinann and Naecke —
A personal observation 1 — Bloch on woman haters . 241

VI May disgust produce the homosexual attitude?
Cases by Krafft-Bbing, Fleischmann, Ziemcke
— Observation (personal) and case by Bloch —
Late trauma as cause of homosexuality — Per-
sonal observation of a case of late homosexuality
— Two cases by Bloch — Further discussion of the
problem — A case of Pflster's with the analysis
of several dreams 279

VII Erotism and sexuality — The motive power of un-
fulfilled wishes — The male protest — The rela-
tions of the homosexual to his mother — Hirsch-
feld's schematic outline — Infantile impressions —
— Influence of the stronger parent — Letter of an
expert SSI

Index 353

Krafft-Ebing considers Onanism the Cause of Homo-
sexuality — Confusion of Cause and Effect —
The Views of Krafft-Ebing— The Views of Moll
— of Havelock Ellis — of Bloch — of Magnus
Hirschfeld — How is the Diagnosis estab-
lished? — The fundamental Bi-sexuality of all
Persons — Relation of Neurosis and Homo-
sexuality — The Family of the Homosexual—
The Views of Bloch on the Problem — The In-
fluence of the Psyche on the Organism — Wish
as active Factor of the Psyche — My theory —
The Theories of Kiernan, Chevalier and Lom-
broso — The Neurotic as a retrograded type —
Early awakening of sexuality.

Leben — ist das nicht gerade ein Andersseinwollen,
als die Natur ist? — Nietzsche.

BISEXUAL LOVE

Living,' — is it not the will to be otherwise
than nature is? — Nietzsche.

That there are preeminent physicians who
earnestly look upon masturbation as the cause of
homosexuality seems hardly believable. It would
be as proper to consider masturbation the cause of
sexuality. We have shown elsewhere that onanism
may be the result of ungratified homosexual trends.
At times it may stand as a substitute for some
homosexual act. It then replaces for a time the
adequate temporary form of sexual gratification.
I state "temporary form," because the sexual
object itself does not remain permanently the same
and the sexual directive goals, — to use the excellent
expression of Hans Bluher x are often abandoned.
The false notion that onanism is responsible for
homosexuality has been preconized by Krafft-

*Hans Bluher: Studien ueber den perversen Charakter.
Ztrbl. f. Psychoanalyse, Oct., 1913.

11

12 Bi-Sexual Love

Ebing, whose great authority in matters of sexual
psychopathology persists to this day. His services
are significant, indeed, and we must observe that he
has at last accepted the view of Hirschfeld that
homosexuality is inborn, — that there is an acquired
and a hereditary homosexuality. 1 But in the last
(14th) edition of Krafft-Ebing's work, which has
appeared in 1912, his editor, Alfred Fuchs, pre-,
serves the statement about onanism at the head of
the chapter and he even underscores the conten-
tions of his great teacher on this particular sub-
ject. 2

1 New Studien auf dem Oebiete der HomotexualUaet. Jahrb.
f. Sexuelle Zieischenstuffen, vol. Ill, Leipzig.

" This view of Kraft-Ebing is by no means "antiquated." It
is still maintained by Stier (Zur Aetiologie des kontraeren
Sexualgefuehls. Monatschrf. f. Psych, u. Neurol., vol. XXXII,
1914) and very energetically criticised (ibid.) by Hirschfeld
and Burchard. "It is inconceivable," state the above named
authors, "how Stier can ascribe an etiologic significance to
onanism in connection with homosexuality. Its distribution,
ubiquitous — in the opinion of most specialists, would permit
one to hold masturbation responsible for any other sexual
development as well." According to Stier, early and long-
continued onanism (especially mutual) is harmful because
"it does away with the feeling of shame in connection with
one's sexual organs and makes for readier handling even by
the uncorrupted adult." Fleischmanm also finds 33 excessive
onanists among 60 inverts and concludes (Beitr. zur Lehre der
kontraeren Sexualempfindung, Zeitschr. f. d. ges. Neur. u.
Psychol., vol. VII, 1911) that "like alcoholism, masturbation
must influence the development of the perversion." Many of
his patients mentioned the habit in a casual relation. We
know well that the sense of guilt is attached to the habit of
masturbation. But Fleischtnaim sees in that a proof. "Onan-
ism plays a role in the development of the sexual perversion,"
he argues, "because it rouses an increased sexual excitability
while the will power is weakened by it at the same time and

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 13

My work proves that we must abandon the
merely descriptive method of sexual research. The
subject's first account is only a statement of the
manifest content of his consciousness concerning
his paraphilia. We must look into the latent con-
tent, into the unconscious and quasi-conscious
forces involved. The descriptive form of sexual re-
search must be replaced by the psychological, in
keeping with the spirit of our times. In no other
field does analysis so convincingly and completely
prove its claims.

What was the status of the subject before the
advent of analysis? Krafft-Ebmg originally looked
upon homosexuality as the result of a hereditary
transmission, a hypothesis not corroborated by the
observations of subsequent" investigators. Certain
circumstances favor an outcropping in manifest
form of the latent homosexuality common to all per-
sons, — a fact which complicates this problem. En-
vironment also comes into play. An environment
such as is furnished by some nervous or psycho-
pathic parents naturally plays a role. This sub-
ject we shall take up later. The alleged heredi=
tary transmission is supposed to show itself in the
homosexual through the early awakening of the
sexual instinct and by the appearance of masturba-
tion during early childhood. But we know that

there follows a progressive wandering of the sexual instinct
away from the normal sexual aim and object."

14 Bi-Sexual Love

the homosexuals share this peculiarity with all
others, especially with neurotic persons. A strong
flaring up of instinct is not the consequence but the
cause of the neurosis. But according to Krafft-
Ebing masturbation during childhood is the cause
of homo- or pseudo-homosexuality breaking forth
at a later period. "Nothing is more likely," he
states, "than masturbation, so to disturb and oc-
casionally thwart all noble emotions at the source
as they arise spontaneously out of the sexual feel-
ing. 1 The habit robs the nascent feeling of charm
and beauty leaving behind only the husk of grossly
animal craving for sexual gratification. An indi-
vidual, so thwarted, attains the age of maturity
lacking the esthetic, ideal, pure and undefiled longing
which leads to the other sex. At the same time the
heat of sensuous passion cools off while bhe in-
clination towards the other sex is significantly
weakened. This deficiency embraces the morals,
the ethics, the character, the phantasy and the dis-
position of the youthful masturbator as well as his
emotional and instinctive life and holds true of both

1 This contention is altogether wrong. I have never seen so
many and such pronounced idealists as among masturbators.
Young artists, poets and musicians in particular often show,
I have found, a strong tendency to masturbation, and this
agrees with the pronounced bisexuality of all artists, which has
been particularly pointed out by Fliess. The youths of this
type are often so delicate and sensitive that they see in the
sexual act only animal brutality and hide their own sexuality
from the whole world. Among masturbators we find the
champions of truth, the over-moralistic preachers, the ethical
reformers and dreamers.

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 15

sexes, occasionally reducing to zero the yearning
after the opposite sex, so that in the end masturba-
tion is preferred to every other form of gratifica-
tion."

Imagine the injurious effect of such statements
upon the masturbating youth; particularly when
he reads that the best way to combat homosex-
uality is to fight against masturbation (p. 336,
loc. cit.).

The great investigator has confused here cause
and effect. The masturbators avoid the path
leading to woman not because they masturbate.
They indulge in the habit because the path towards
womanhood is closed to them. For many persons
masturbation is the only available method of sexual
gratification. Persons with a strongly accentuated
homosexual tendency often find no other path
open at all, particularly when the intercourse with
woman becomes impossible for them on account of
some definite traumatic incidents, such as we shall
discuss fully later.

Masturbation is never the cause of homosexuality.
Homosexuals do not contract the habit early, as
Krafft-Ebmg claims, — it is an early, a very early
habit of all persons — and that without any ex-
ception. The homosexuals do not forget their
childhood onanism because there are other, more
painful memories for them to repress and drive out
of memory. Again we shall speak fully of that

16 Bi-Sexual Love

later. More important for the present is the
question: how does homosexuality arise? Is the
condition hereditary or acquired? Is it something
fatally predetermined or is it only the result of
certain definite constellations of the family circle?
May it be ascribed to a hereditary taint? Krafft-
Ebing was at first of the latter opinion and pro-
pounded the thesis that "we may doubt whether a
person of the same sex ever has a sensuous attrac-
tion for a normally predisposed individual," but
later he changed this opinion fundamentally and
expressed the conviction' that there is an inborn
homosexuality though the condition is found only
among the hereditarily predisposed.

He propounded the following theses:

"1. The sexual life of such persons manifests
itself as a rule very precociously and consequently,
is of abnormal strength. Not rarely the peculiar
attraction for members of the same sex which in
itself marks the abnormal direction of the sexual,
instinct is associated with other perverse manifesta-
tions.

"2. The spiritual love of these persons is fre-
quently an exalted dreaming just as their sexual
instinct as a whole penetrates their consciousness
with a peculiar and even compulsive strength.

"3. In addition to the functional signs of de-
generation manifested in the contrary sexual in-
stinct often there are found also other functional

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality IT

and frequently also anatomic stigmata of degenera-
tion.

"4. Neuroses are present (hysteria, neuras-
thenia, epileptoid states, etc.). Neurasthenia,
transitional or chronic, is nearly always manifest.
This is usually a constitutional state induced by
inborn conditions. It is awakened and sustained
through masturbation or compulsory abstinence." *

These statements are relatively milder and here
the ideal traits of homosexuality are also given
some recognition, although — as we know well — all
without exception are addicted to masturbation.
Krafft-Ebing does not know that all artists are
neurotics and that neurosis stands in intimate con-
nection with creative ability. He also makes a
distinction between true and false homosexuality, —
bisexuality (psychio hermaphroditism) and other
forms, as described by Hirschfeld. 2

*Cf., on the other hand, the views of Block: "That the con-
trary sexual instinct-feeling in itself is not a sign of psychic
degeneration and need not be looked upon at all as morbid,
is shown, among others, by the fact that the condition is often
associated with spiritual superiority. As proof we find, among
all nations, men of proven homosexuality, who are the pride
of their respective people as writers, poets, artists, military
strategists, or statesmen. Further proof that the contrary
sexual feeling is no disease and does not necessarily lead to
immoral tendencies may be seen in all the noble qualities of
heart which it is capable of generating, precisely as the
heterosexual attraction, such as courage, self-sacrifice, altruism,
artistic feeling, creative energy, etc., just as it may be respon-
sible also for any of the morbidities and failings of hetero-
sexual love (jealousy, suicide, murder, unhappy love with its
deleterious effects on mind and body, etc.)

' It was clearly the duty of the new editor of Krafft-Ebing's

18 Bi-Sexual Love

Krafft-Ebmg points out a certain relationship
between homosexuality and neurosis. But since he
still preserves the concept of degeneration, he is
forced in the end to admit that homosexuality may
also appear in the normal and is not necessarily a
morbidity.

Moll, to whom we owe the first great comprehen-
sive work on homosexuality, is of an entirely differ-

popular work to have recorded therein the author's latest
views. In his "Neuen Studien auf dem Oebiete der Homo-
sexualitaet," he states: "In contrast with the conception that
contrary sexuality is an inborn anomaly, a disorder in the
evolution of the sexual function of monosexuals and of the
glandular development of the sex glands, the conception of
'morbidity' is untenable. We may rather speak in this con-
nection of a malformation and compare the anomaly with
bodily malformations, — -for instance, with the anatomic devia-
tions from the average type. But the concept of a simultaneous
psychopathic state remains a legitimate assumption, because
subjects presenting anatomic as well as functional deviations
from type (stigmata degewerationis), may preserve good
physical health for a time, and may even show points of

"At the same time so tremendous a deviation as contrary
sexual feeling must have a far wider influence upon the psyche
than many of the anatomic or functional stigmata of degenera-
tion. That is the reason why any disturbance in the usual
development of a normal sexual life reflects so commonly in
an unfavorable sense upon the harmonious psychic development
of personality. Victims of contrary sexual feeling often show
neuropathic and psychopathic predispositions, such as, for in-
stance, a tendency to constitutional neurasthenias and hysteria,
milder forms of periodic psychosis, inhibitions against the
unfoldment of psychic energies (intelligence, moral sense),
including moral inferiority, especially associated with hyper-
sexuality, eventually leading to most serious disorders of the
sexual instinct. At any rate, it can be shown that, relatively
speaking, heterosexuals prove greater cynics about sexual
matters than the homosexuals. Also that other degenerative
signs upon the field of sexuality, such as sadism, masochism,
fetichism, etc., are much more commonly found among the
former. . . ."

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 19

ent opinion. He states: "Considering the sexual
instinct not as a means for the attainment of pleas-
ure but as standing in the service of procreation we
must look upon exclusive homosexuality as be-
longing to the realm of pathology." (Die kortf
traere Se/malempftndung, Berlin, 1899, 3rd edn.)
This is an untenable argument. For there is no
procreative instinct as such, only a sexual instinct.
Science is not concerned with the study of purpos-
iveness, it is interested in the ascertainment of facts.
Science must not and cannot be placed in the service
of teleology. At any rate Moll is inclined to look
upon homosexuality as a neurosis: he claims to
have found in recent years a growing tendency
among investigators to establish a border province
between mental health and disease, "and into that
realm have been relegated many cases of psychic
degeneration — I may mention, for instance, certain
compulsory neuroses. I believe it is proper that
we should place in the same category the contrary
sexual feeling." (Loc. cit. p. 435.) He refers here
to Westphal who compares homosexuality to moral
insanity. 1

Notwithstanding Moll's opinion we must state 1
that most modern investigators declare that they
have examined many homosexuals whom they have
found normal or have at least designated as normal.

1 Dt'e kontraere Sexualempfindung, Symptom ernes neuro-
patischen (psychopathischen) Zustandes. Arch. f. Psych, u.
Neurol, vol. II, p. 106, 1870.

20 Bi-Sexual Love

Havelock Ellis and Albert MoU x very appropriately
state in their last joint work:

"Naecke has repeatedly maintained that the
homosexuals are perfectly healthy and aside from
their specific deviation may be normal in every
respect. We have always maintained this view al-
though, contrary to Naecke, we assume that homo-'
sexuality is very frequently found in mtmnate as-
sociation with minor nervous states. We agree
with Hirschfeld that heredity plays a role in no
more than 25 per cent of the cases of homosexuality
and that, although a neuropathic background may
be present in homosexuality, the degenerative factor
plays but a small role." These authors find the
hypothesis that every person's constitution com-
bines the male and female elements a keen concept
though rather hypothetical. "But still it is un-
doubtedly justified, if we look upon homosexuality
as an inborn anomaly or, to speak more correctly,
as an anomaly resting on constitutional traits,
which if morbid, are so only in Virchowfs sense, ac-
cording to whom pathology is not the science of
diseases but of deviations, so that the homosexual
may be as healthy as the color blind. Inborn
homosexuality ranks on the level of a biologic
variation: it is a variation, representing perhaps
an incomplete phase of sexual differentiation, but

1 Handbuch der Sexualwissenschaften (Die Fnnftionsstwr-
rmgen des Sexuallebens.) Leipzig, Verlag F. C. W. Vogel,
J912, p. 652.

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 21

bearing no discernible relationship to any morbid
condition of the individual."

I am inclined to doubt this view. What proof
have we that the homosexual is perfectly healthy
when any criterion of health we may accept must be
artificial? On this point we have only the state-
ments of the involved persons to rely upon. All
describe themselves as healthy. Do not advanced
psychopaths do the same? They lack any feeling
of illness. This seems to be characteristic of
homosexuals in particular. They want their con-
dition to be looked upon as normal. They claim
to be in good health, seldom wish to change their
condition, and usually do not call for medical ad-
vice unless they come into conflict with the law and
find themselves in danger. The authors themselves
very properly remark: "As to the men, the homo-
sexuals prefer to hold themselves as normal and
endeavor to justify that contention. Those who
struggle against their instinctive craving, who look
upon their conduct as peculiar or so much as en-
tertain any doubts about it, are in the minority, —
less than 20 per cent."

Naturally the large number of homosexual phy-
sicians have always tried to convince their ob-
servers that they are normal and that they do not
differ from other persons in any other way. But
all unprejudiced observers have to admit the
presence of numerous neurotic traits in connection

22 Bi-Sexual Love

with homosexuality. This I have undertaken to
prove sine ira et studio having met numberless homo-
sexuals and having become very closely acquainted
with many of them. I have never yet found a
homosexual who mas not a neurotic. He is neces-
sarily that, as I shall later prove. He must be
neurotic, the same as the heterosexual, who
struggles to overcome and repress a vast portion of
homosexual longing with him. Havelock Ellis and
MoU as well as Krafft-Ebing also lay stress upon
the tendency to neurasthenia. But who nowadays
is not neurasthenic? is a question frequently heard.
Such an unprejudiced investigator as Imam Block
becomes convinced and recognizes an inborn homo-
sexuality which must not be conceived as a mor-
bidity. For a long time Block preconized a dif-
ferent view but changed his opinion convinced
by Hirschfeld's work and through his own profes-
sional contact with homosexuals. He is now a be-
liever in the theory of inborn homosexuality having
been led to this view particularly by the statements
of the homosexuals. Later we shall prove how un-
reliable such statements must be. At any rate so
keen an observer as Block could not fail to note
the striking percentage of neurotic homosexuals.
But he thought they were nervous because "homo-
sexuality acts upon them as a psychic trauma."
Further he states: "According to my investiga-
tions and observations the relationship between

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 23

health and disease among homosexuals is originally
the same as among heterosexuals and in time, on ac-
count of the social and individual isolation of the
homosexuals, acting like a psychic trauma, mor-
bidity becomes accentuated; usually we encounter
nervous complaints and difficulties of an acquired
character, and we note the development of a typical
'homosexual neurasthenia,' which may readily
enough lead some superficial observers to confuse
post hoc with propter hoc." Undoubtedly the
dangers of homosexual activity favor the develop-
ment of anxiety states. But such nervous states
are found also in cases showing no predisposition
towards anxiety, and anxiety states are en-
countered without any relation to homosexuality.

Magnus Hirschfeld places himself with all the
weight of his personality and experience squarely in
favor of the contention that homosexuality is a
normal state. His investigations touching upon
this field are numerous. We also owe to his labors
that great work on the subject: Die Homosexual-
it aet des Mannes unA des Weibes. (The Homo-
sexuality of Man and of Woman, Verlag L. Marcus,
Berlin, SW, 61.) No investigator interested in
this subject can neglect this fundamental and ex-
haustive treatment of it. Subsuming the views of
Hirschfeld we may state: There is a genuine inborn
homosexuality which must not be looked upon as
a morbidity. This homosexuality should be con-

£4 Bi-Sexual Love

fused neither with bisexuality nor with pseudo-
homosexuality. Hirschfeld, too, has changed his
views in the course of time. He had conceived
homosexuality as a sexual intermediary stage be-
tween man and woman and proposed the famous
term: the third sex. As is well known all persons
are bisexual. Hirschfeld looked for the well known
physical stigmata of bisexuality among the homo-
sexuals. He found among men enlargement of the
breasts, female hips, delicate skin, etc., and among
women growth of facial hair, male, energetic traits,
etc. In his work entitled, Der Urnische Mensch, he
maintained: "A homosexual not differing bodily,
physically and mentally from the full grown man I
have not found among 1500 subjects and I am
therefore disposed to doubt the occurrence until I
shall meet such an individual." But in his more
recent work he declares: "The androgynic type of
man and the gynandric type of woman are not nec-
essarily homosexual. There are types of persons
which may be described as eunuchoid, — they give
the impression of castrated persons without hav-
ing undergone the operation, — they possess female
bodies, high voice and beardless face. Generally
there is azoospermia, frequently anorchia. There
are corresponding types in the female sex, — persons
with bodies showing many masculine traits. These
marked womanly men and mannish women are often
considered homosexual, but it is not uncommon to

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality £5

find them completely heterosexual inasmuch as they
find complementary individuals among the types be-
longing to the opposite sex. The types which at-
tract them are also androgynous." 1

Hirschfeld does not admit the influence of latent
homosexuality in the choice of this androgenic type.
A homosexual whose condition is not manifest he
does not recognize. His ground for diagnosis is no
longer similarity of bodily traits when compared
with the opposite sex. The determining factor for
Hirschfeld is only the subject's feeling. If he is
homo sexually inclined (particularly if so disposed
from childhood), the subject is homosexual.
Hirschfeld' s own statement is as follows: "The de-
termining factor in the diagnosis of homosexuality
remains as before the contrary feeling proper; the
diagnosis is strongly supported by a negative atti-
tude towards the other sex, as well as by altero-
sexual episodes, although these two features in

*I find a very interesting observation by Block, one which
deserves to be widely circulated: "A final and not unimportant
form of Pseudo-homosexuality is hermaphroditism (das Zwit-
tertwn). It is remarkable that science has concerned itself
only in recent years with the close study of hermaphroditic
conditions which have not received heretofore the attention
warranted by their sociologic bearings and their frequency. It
is a great merit of Newgebauer and of Magnus Hirschfeld
that they have called general attention to these remarkable
sexual Zwischenstmfen, intermediary states, and have pointed
out their great practical significance, a matter of which no
one has thought before, as is shown by the significant fact
that the new German civil code has done away with the legal
proscriptions of the old Prussian law concerning the Zwitter
(hermaphrodites), upon the contention that no person is of
unknown or unascertainable sex.

26 Bi-Sexual Love

themselves are not capable of establishing the
diagnosis.'* Since Block alsoi admits that there
are many virile homosexuals with bodily structures
wholly male, it follows that the organic diagnosis
of homosexuality is altogether unreliable. Hans
BMher, a reliable expert on homosexuality, also
recognizes the pure homosexual, which he calls the
"male hero" type, whose character and habitus is
completely male, thus differing from the second
type, the "woman-like invert" (moertierter Weib-
ling). The latent homosexual he considers a third
type. (Vid. Die drei Grundformen der Homo-
sexualitaet : Erne sexuologische Studie. Jahrbuch
f. sexuelle Zwischenstuffen, vol. XIII).

Let us repeat and underscore the far-fetched
feature of this method of diagnosis. According to
it there is no objective means for ascertaining
homosexuality. The only diagnostic guide is the
homosexual's declaration that he has always felt
homosexuatty inclined and that he is indifferent to-
wards the other sex.

The .analyst is well qualified to recognise the
utter weakness of such a diagnostic guide. We
meet continually persons who claim to know them-
selves thoroughly; they claim that they have in-
vestigated their own state very conscientiously but
after a few weeks, often only after a few days (il-
lustrations will be fully given in this book) the
subject must admit that he did not know himself,

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 27

that, in fact, he had avoided knowing himself. All
persons lie about sexual matters and deceive them-
selves m the first place. All play Vogelstrauss-
politik, the ostrich.

All neurotics falsify their life history or at least
retouch it. They simply forget the facts which do
not suit their system of thinking. We must also
bear in mind Havelock Ellis' statement that the
homosexuals prefer toi consider themselves us
normal. Similarly the childhood history is distor-
ted consciously or unconsciously and a life history
is reconstructed (in retrospect) from which all
heterosexual episodes have been eliminated.

Psychoanalysis has proven that all homosexuals,
without exception, shown heterosexual tendencies
in early life. There is no exception to this rule.
There are no monosexual persons! The hetero-
sexual period stretches far into puberty. All per-
sons are bisexual. But persons repress either the
homosexual or the heterosexual components on ac-
count of certain motives or because they are com-
pelled by particular circumstances and conse-
quently act as if they were monosexual. Even the
"male hero" (Maennerheld) type and Hirschfeld's
"genuine" homosexual is only apparently mono-
sexual. A glance through the confessions dis-
closed by all writers is enough to convince one of
this fact. Hirschfeld himself points out that it is
to the credit of psychoanalysis that it has revealed

g8 Bi-Sexual Love

the transitory heterosexual cravings of the homo-
sexual.

The instinct of the homosexual originally is not
exclusively directed towards the same sex. Orig-
inally the homosexual is also bisexual. But he re-
presses his heterosexuality just as the heterosexual
must repress his homosexuality. Blither who is un-
willing to recognise a pathogenesis of homosexuality
for the 'male hero' type, contends that one coulct
claim with equal relevance that there is a patho-
genesis of heterosexuality.

That is a fact. Every monosexuality is other
than normal or natural. Nature has created us bi-
sexual beings and requires us to act as bisexual
beings. The purely heterosexual is always a neu-
rotic in a certain sense, that is, the repression of
the homosexual components already creates a pre-
disposition to neurosis, or is in itself a neurotic
trait shared by every normal person. The psy-
chology of paranoia, for whose investigation we are
indebted to the genius of Freud, shows us the ex-
treme result of this process of repression on one
side, just as homosexuality shows us the other side
of the same process.

There is no homosexual who is not more or less
neurotic, that condition being due to the repression
of the heterosexuality. The repression is a purely
psychic process and has nothing to do with de-
generation. Homosexuality is not a product of

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 29

degeneration in the ordinary sense. It is a neu-
rosis and displays the etiology of a neurosis, as we
shall prove later.

I revert to Hirschfeld. Regarding the relation-
ship of neurosis and homosexuality he states:

"1. Pronounced physical and mental stigmata of
degeneration are relatively rare among homosexual
men and women; at any rate such signs are not
more frequent in proportion to the total number of
homosexuals than among the heterosexuals of both
sexes.

"2. On the other hand we find frequently and
not merely as a result of homosexuality, a, greater
instability of the nervous system (frequently shown
in the periodic character of endogenous temper-
amental instability) (endogene Stknmmgsschwan-
lewngen).

"3. The family of the homosexual often contains
a larger number of nervous persons and such as
deviate from the normal sexual type. (Hirschfeld,
I.e., p. 338).

Hirschfeld also emphasizes the labile character of
the nervous system among homosexuals pointing to
the large number of abnormal sexual types in the
family of the homosexual. That undoubtedly is a
correct observation. It may be explained in two
ways: (1) as the result of heredity; (2) as a con-
sequence of a common environment. The extent to
which these two factors are at work in particular in-

SO Bi-Sexual Love

stances may be ascertained only on the basis of
specific inquiries.

I can state from my own professional experience
that the parents of homosexuals always show ab-
normal character traits. With remarkable fre-
quency male homosexuals have mothers who are
melancholic, or subject to depressions or who are
advanced hysteriqals. All gradations are found,
from the emotional, domineering type of woman to
the solitary, quiet, submissive woman who becomes
a prey to melancholia and eventually must be in-
terned in some institution. Urlinds show just as
frequently a pathologic father, a home tyrant, a
drinker, morphine fiend, dissolute fellow, 'lady kil-
ler,' epileptic or hysterical. We will determine
later to what extent such parents influence psychi-
cally their offspring and the attitude of the children
towards them. Careful investigation of life
histories will make the subject plain.

How do the various writers explain the rise of
homosexuality? We have mentioned already that
Hirschfeld and all investigators deriving their in-
spiration from him hold to the theory that homo*-
sexuality is inborn. According to them, therefore,
it is part of inexorable fate, like the law of the
planets. . . .

But Bloch finds the condition baffling in spite of
all the explanations furnished by Hirschfeld and

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 31

reverting to the latter's chemical theory (antdrm
and gynecin) he concludes :

"(1) The so-called 'undifferentiated* stage of
the sexual instinct (Max Dessoir) is often elimin-
ated when the sexual instinct becomes directed to-
wards a definite particular sex among heterosexuals
or homesexuals before the advent of puberty.
Homosexuality shows a definite, clear direction of
the sexual instinct towards the same sex long before
puberty.

"2. A comprehensive theory of homosexuality
must also explain the extreme cases, particularly
male homosexuality coupled with complete virility.

"3. Sexual parts and genital glands cannot de-
termine homosexuality in those possessing typical
normal male genitalia and testicles; neither can
the brain itself be the determining factor in genu-
ine homosexuality, because homosexuality cannot
be rooted out by the strongest conscious and un-
conscious heterosexual influences brought to bear
upon thought and phantasy, — the condition de-
veloping in spite of such influences.

"4. Since as a predisposition (not as sexual in-
stinct) homosexuality appears long before puberty
and before the actual functioning of the respective
genital glands, it suggests that in homosexuals some
physiologic action pertaining to 'sexuality' but not
necessarily related to the functioning of the genital

82 Bi-Sexual Love

glands undergoes some subtle change as the result
of which the sexual instinct is turned from its goal.

"5. The condition suggests chemical changes,
alterations in the chemism of sexual tension, the
latter being fairly independent of the activity of
the sexual glands proper, as is shown by the fact
that it may be preserved among eunuchs and others
who undergo castration." (Bloch, loc. cit. p. 589).

Further he states: "In my opinion the anatomic
contradiction, the biologic monstrosity of a woman-
ly, or unmanly psyche in a typical male body or a
womanly-unmanly sexual psyche in the presence of
normally appearing and functioning male genitalia
can be solved only if we take into consideration this
intercurrent third factor. The latter may be
traceable to some embryonal disturbance in the
sexual chemism. That would also explain why
homosexuality often appears in the midst of
healthy families as a singular manifestation, having
no relation to any possible hereditary transmission
or degenerative taint. On the other hand, the con-
tention of v. Roemer that homosexuality is a re-
generative process has hardly any points to sup-
port it. The root of the riddle of homosexuality
lies here. At least I conceive it to be a riddle.
With my theory I endeavor to cover merely the
facts and the probable physiologic relationship of
homosexuality with particular reference to the bio-
logic aspect of the problem and to do it more closely

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality S3

than the previous theories have done it. But my
theory does not attempt to explain the ultimate ori-
gin of the relatively frequent condition known as
homosexuality.

"I do not claim to be able to penetrate into the
last ultimate causes. This remains a riddle to be
solved. But from the standpoint of culture and
procreation homosexuality appears to be a mean-
ingless and purposeless dysteleological manifesta-
tion, like many another natural appearance, such
as, for instance, the vermiform appendix in man. In
a former chapter I have already pointed out that
the progress of culture has been in the direction of
a sharper differentiation of sexes, that the antith-
esis male and female, becomes progressively
sharper. Sexual indifference, genital transition-
forms are of primitive character and Edward v.
Mayer is correct when he holds that homosexuality
was much more widespread during the prehistoric
age than it is today and considers it as com-
mon, genetically, as heterosexual love. Through
heredity, adjustment and differentiation, culture
has progressively repressed the homosexual lean-
ings." (Bloch, loc. cit. p. 590.)

Concerning these novel theories of homosexuality
I must remark: It is not correct that the homo-
sexuals before puberty show an exclusive definite mr
clination towards their own sex and only towards
their own. The truth is that like all other persons,

Si Bi-Sexual Love

the homosexuals show a bisexual period (the undiffer-
entiated stage of Max Dessoir) before puberty.
Only they forget their heterosexual experiences.
The truth is that a comprehensive theory of homo-
sexuality ought to explain also the extreme cases,
specifically male homosexuality coupled with
complete preservation of vitality and female homo-
sexuality with the preservation of all feminine char-
acters. Such cases are covered neither by Hirsch-
f eld's theory nor by that of Block. The third point
is equally pertinent. It cannot be a question of
brain and genital gland. Chemical influences are
likely, but difficult to prove.

The baffling feature of the problem is due to the
fact that the attempt has been made to explain all
cases of homosexuality on the basis of a single plan.

As a matter of fact homosexuality may develop
in a number of ways and each one must be taken into
consideration. That the genital glands play a
role in homosexuality seems to me very likely. But
while these influences may be suspected they cannot
be proven. What I am able to prove on the basis
of my data are the psychic factors.

Nor must we forget that not only does the body
influence the mind, but that the reverse is also true:
the psyche builds up the body in accordance with
its predispositions. We find that the artist's
physiognomy differs from that of the artisan, and
the physician's differs from that of the attorney.

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 35

The mind also models the body. A man who feels
himself woman-like and who longs to be a woman
will unconsciously adopt woman's ways and imitate
woman. In the course of time even his appearance
will be womanly. Possibly — that agrees with my
view — the transformation is conditioned by glandu-
lar changes. We may presuppose that, but the
notion appertains to the realm of hypothesis, which
I prefer to avoid.

All writers sem to neglect the powerful role of
the psychic factors. These factors may seem un-
real to the upholder of mechanistic theories. Un-
fortunately most physicians underestimate the
power of the unconscious wish as a plastic and syn-
thetising energy within the human organism. The
wish to be a man may raise boys to manliness ; the
wish to remain a child hinders development towards
adulthood; the wish to be a woman makes for
femininity. Any one familiar with Pawlow's in-
vestigations of the 'conditioned reflex* will readily
see that certain particular wishes may exert a defi-
nite influence upon the activity of the genital glands.
The wishes are certainly capable of influencing the
appearance, action, activity and features of the in-
dividual.

When a boy acts like a girl, it does not neces-
sarily mean that he has that kind of a predisposi-
tion. It may only signify his identification with
his mother or with a sister.

86 Bi-Sexual Love

Very clearly on this point is the testimony of a
case of which I find an account in Hirschf eld's book.

A homosexual woman writes: "I was horn in the
country, where my father owned a large estate, and
there I was brought up till my 14th year. I was
the youngest. My oldest brother had girlish ways
about him and was mother's pet rather than
father's, whose favorite child, in turn, was my
eldest sister. On my part I am the thorough image
of my father in all character traits and in my sen-
suous predisposition as well. In later years father,
had often said: 'With you and Ludwig (the elder
brother) nature made a mistake; you should have
been a boy and Ludwig a girl.* Nevertheless I am
certain that father knew nothing about homo-
sexuality, also that my brother was not homosexual.
My peculiar predisposition showed itself already
while I was a child, for it was always my greatest
desire to be a boy. As a child two or three years
of age, I put on some of father's clothes, played
with his cap and promenaded around the yard with
his walking stick." {Hirschf eld, loc. cit,, p. 43).

We see clearly that this young woman identified
herself with her father. She wanted to be a man
like her father.

The remarks of Ulrichs (vid. Inclusa, p. 27 ffl.)
may be understood in the same sense: "As a child
the urning shows an unmistakable predisposition
towards girlish occupations, intercourse with girls,

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 37

girlish games, and playing with dolls. Such a
child is very sorry that it is not 'boy-like' to play
with dolls, that Santa Claus does not bring him also
dolls and that he is not allowed to play with his
sister's dolls. Such a child shows interest in sew-
ing, knitting and cutting, in the soft and delicate
texture of girls' clothes, such as he, too, would like
to wear, and in the colored silks and ribbons of
which he delights to abstract some specimens as
keepsakes. He avoids contact with boys, he avoids
their plays and games. The play horse leaves him
indifferent. Soldier games, so much in favor with
boys do not attract him. He avoids all boyish
rough plays, such as snow-balling. He likes or-
dinary ball games but only with girls. He throws
the ball with the girl's light and stilted arm move-
ment not with a boy's free and powerful arm swing.
Any one who has occasion to observe a boy urning
and does it carefully may verify these or similar
peculiarities. Is that all only imagination? I
had observed in myself long ago the peculiarities
mentioned above and, moreover, they always im-
pressed me, although I did not at first recognize
their female character. In 1854 I related the facts
to a relative of mine, intimating that they must
have some bearing on my sexuality. He scorned
the idea and I yielded to his opinion at the time.
But in 1862 I took up that matter again with him :
meanwhile I had had opportunity to observe other

38 Bi-Sexual Love

urnings and I noted that the female habitus re-
curred in every one, although not precisely with the
same particular features. But the female habitus
differs also among women with regard to certain de-
tails. In my case, as a boy of 10 or 12 years of
age, how often my dear mother sighed as she ex-
claimed: 'Karl, you are not like other boys.' How
often she warned me: 'You will grow up a queer
fellow, if nothing worse!'" (Hirschfeld, I. c. p.
117).

What do these fine observations prove? Any
one who understands the playful character of
children, their early directed psyche, must recog-
nise that such conduct results through the influence
of a wish.

No— these observations do not prove at all that
the contrary sexual feeling is innate. Hirschfeld
contends : "these accounts ( referring to previous
statements) show a remarkable absence of tender-
ness among the urning girls. An expert thorough-
ly familiar with their psyche, not without reason
states that we must watch the girl who passes
carelessly by a looking glass without stopping in
front of it when dressing and we must watch the
boy who clings with pleasure to the looking glass
returning to it again and again, for thereby both
betray early their homosexual nature." (Hirsch-
feld, loc. cit. p. 119). I see nothing in these state-

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 89

ments but an attempt on his part to differ from the
other colleagues.

Finally I turn to my own conception of homo-
sexuality, formulated, on the basis of psycho-
analytic data and as an outgrowth of the teachings
of Freud.

All persons originally are bisexual m their pre-
disposition. There is no exception to this rule.
Normal persons shorn a distinct bisexual period up
to the age of puberty. The heterosexual then re-
presses his homosexuality. He also sublimates a
portion of his homosexual cravings in friendship,
nationalism, social endeavors, gatherings, etc. If
this sublimation fails him lie becomes neurotic.
Since no person overcomes completely his homosex-
ual tendencies, every one carries within himself the
predisposition to neurosis. The stronger the re-
pression, the stronger is also the neurotic reaction
which may be powerful enough in its extreme form to
lead to paranoia (Freud's theory of paranoia). If
the heterosexuality is repressed, homosexuality comes
to the forefront. In the case of the homosexual the
repressed and incompletely conquered heterosexual-
ity furnishes the disposition towards neurosis. The
more thoroughly his heterosexuality is sublimated the
more completely the homosexual presents the pic-
ture of a normal healthy person. He then resembles
the normal heterosexual. But like th& normal hetero-

40 Bi-Sexual Love

sexua* individual, even the "male hero" type displays
a permanent latent disposition to neurosis.

The process of sublimation is more difficult m the
case of the normal homosexual than m the case qf
the normal heterosexual. That is why this typtis
extremely rare and why a thorough analysis always
discloses typical neurotic reactions. The neurotic
reactions of repression (Abwehr, Freud) are anxiety,
shame, disgust and hatred {or scorn). The hetero-
sexual is inspired with disgust at any homosexual
acts. That proves his affectively determined nega-
tive attitude. For disgust is but the obverse of at-
traction. The homosexual manifests the same feel-
ing of disgust for woman, showing him to be a neu-
rotic. (Or else he hates woman.) For the normal
homosexual — if there be such a type — would be in-
different towards woman. These generalisations al-
ready show that the healthy person must act as a
bisexual being.

We know only one race of people who recognised
formally the bisexual nature of man: the Greeks.
But we must recognise also that the Greeks had at-
tained the highest level of physical and cultural de-
velopment. We shall have to inquire into the reasons
why homosexuality fell into such disrepute and why
the example of the Greeks found no imitation among
the moderns, despite the recognition accorded the
tremendous cultural achievements of the ancient
Greeks. That will be done later. We conclude:

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 41

There is no inborn homosexuality and no inborn
heterosexuality. There is only bisexuality. 1 Mono-
sexuality already involves a predisposition to neu-
rosis, in many cases stands for the neurosis proper.
The theory is not a novel one. New is only its
association with neurosis. The merit to have been
the first to express it belongs to Kiernam {Medical
Standard, 1888). Kiernam started with the fact
that all lower animals are bisexual and conceived
homosexuality as a retrogression to the primitive
hermaphroditic form of animal existence. We must
note this theory as we shall have occasion to revert
to it when discussing the predisposition to neu-
rosis. Chevalier (Inversion Sexuielle, 1893): also
begins his inquiry with a consideration of the
aboriginal bisexuality of the foetus. Two other in-
vestigators may be mentioned in this connection:
Lombroso, to whom belongs the credit of having
called attention to the manifestations of retrogres-
sion (atavism) and Bmet, who maintains that homo-
sexuality arises when the aboriginal undifferen-
tiated sexual instinct (consequently the bisexual in-
stinct) is aroused through some early experience in

x Hirschf eld emphasizes the fact that homosexuality has noth-
ing to do with organic bisexuality. He states :

"I deem it important to point out this fact: The most
extreme deviation of sexual type approaching the opposite
sex, such as hypertrophy of the clitoris and full facial hair
growth in the female, or hypospadia penis-scrotalis and gynec-
omasty in the female are found linked with heterosexuality
more often than with homosexuality."

48 Bi-Sexual Love

association with a person of the same sex. Here
we have an adumbration of the theory of infantile
trauma which plays such a tremendous role in
Freud's work. In the following chapters a num-
ber of cases will be recorded clearly illustra-
ting the latent influence of infantile experi-
ences.

But we must guard against assuming as true all
the traumas which are reported to us. Some of the
incidents are interpolated into the life history and
only subsequently assume significance. But nothing
is so dangerous in psychology as one-sidedness.
The etiology of homosexuality is a particularly
fruitful field in which to prove, here and there, the
role of infantile traumatic experiences. Krafft-
Ebmg holds that Bkiefs theory will not stand close
critical analysis but expresses himself very unfav-
orably regarding the importance of psychologic re-
lations as a whole. He states : "Psychic forces are
not sufficient to explain so serious a degenerative
process." This depreciation of psychic influences
was not very surprising at a time when the prev-
alent tendency was to explain nearly everything
through heredity or taint.

Before attempting to give an exposition of the
psychologic theory of homosexuality I must discuss
the relations between homosexuality and neurosis.
All investigators, we have already seen, agree that
a relationship exists between them. The question

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 43

is: does the homosexual become neurotic because he
fears coming into conflict with the penal laws, be-
cause he feels his unfortunate predisposition is
something contrary to nature (to adopt his own
expression), — briefly because he is homosexual, or
is he homosexual because he is neurotic?

Here we naturally encounter the need of defining
the meaning of neurosis. What is neurosis and
who is neurotic? I call neurotic the person who
has not successfully overcome the asocial cravings
which he perceives to be unethical. I call asocial
cravings all instincts which society rejects as con-
flicting with its cultural demands. That in itself
shows that the essence of neurosis must differ in
different countries. In one instance we find re-
pression of normal sexuality, because sexual
activity itself is considered unmoral. (Example: the
properly brought up girl in good society who must
remain coy.) In another, we find a struggle with
instincts which society decrees as morbid. (Ex-
ample: the actress who maintains many friendships
and must suppress her homosexual longings.) In
the same way criminal tendencies may play a role
in the development of a neurosis. The neurosis is
the result of the struggle between instinct and in-
hibition. There are, therefore, two paths for the
development of the neurosis: a strong instinctive
craving which naturally endeavors to break through
the inhibitions and powerful inhibitions which re-

44* Bi-Sewual Love

duce to a minimum the voicing of sexual needs even
under the impulsion of strong 1 instincts.

The predisposition to neurosis, therefore, is in-
timately linked with our instincts. The progression
of the human race requires the frequent suppression
of certain instincts and every step in ethical and
cultural progress involves giving up some portion
of instinctive cravings. The laws are a protection
of society against the instinctive cravings of its
members. Society tolerates but a portion of the
instincts to a certain extent and all others it out-
laws as asocial. The evolution of the race may
eventually reach a stage wherein the instincts will
have been placed altogether at the service of
society: the domestication of the instinctive crav-
ings. This is the meaning of the struggle of cen-
turies between brain amd spinal cord. The re-
sults of this struggle may be determined only if we
contrast a truly aboriginal man with a typical
representative of culture. What remarkable prog-
ress has been attained in the conquest of instinct!
Society goes a step further. It takes care that in-
dividuals possessing asocial instincts should be un-
able to propagate their kind. Criminals are ren-
dered innocuous, the asocial person finds the environ-
ment unfavorable and disappears.

But — as I have already stated in my book, Die
Traume der Dichter x — the creative urge of nature
1 English version by J. S. Van Teslaar, in preparation.

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 45

does not mollify man's asocial requirements. The
struggle between nature and culture keeps up un-
abated and the result is neurosis. All paraphilias
are a compromise between instinct and repression.

I must revert here to my theory of neurosis which
I have expressed first in my work entitled, Die
Tr'dwme der Dichter. 1 The neurotic is a retro-
graded type. He represents a conquered stage of
human evolution. He must personally undergo the
struggle through which the human race as a whole
has already passed. The ontogenesis of culture!
Whenever nature attempts the creation of some-
thing great, powerful or sublime it turns to the
great reservoir of its past. Recessive types mani-
fest more powerful instincts. The neurotic, crim-
inals and the specially gifted persons have that in
common. Three paths are open to the man with
heightened instincts: he sublimates his selfish ten-
dencies, his criminal cravings, his asocial attitude
derived from previous epochs and becomes a creator
(poet, painter, sculptor, musician, prophet, inven-
tor, etc.) ; he works out his instincts untrammelled
and becomes a criminal; or the sublimation is but
partly successful and he becomes a neurotic.

My theory of homosexuality thus links itself to
the view of Lombroso. The homesexual, in the first
place, is a recessive character. He shows a pre-
cocious development of an instinct which does not

1 Verlag J. P. Bergmann, Wiesbaden, 1913. Vid. note above.

46 Bir-Sexual Love

fit the requirements of culture; but biologically he
stands nearer the aboriginal bisexual predisposition
of mankind than the normal person who is typical
of the current age. This conflict manifests itself
in various over-compensations, so that the neurotic
advances beyond his age and becomes a creator of
the future. I must ask my readers to consult my
works quoted above for further details on this sub-
ject. I have here merely stated in brief what may
have a bearing on our present theme.

The specially gifted, the artist, the criminal and
the neurotic manifest the same characteristic: over-
stressing of instinctive cravings. The criminal
carries out his promptings, the artist sublimates
them in his works (Shakespeare conceived so many
murders and that saved him from becoming a,
murderer . . . states Hebbel) while the neurotic
meets in them his unsolvable conflicts. He is the
criminal without the criminal's courage to commit
asocial deeds. He is the Don Juan of phantasy,
the Marquis de Sade of his own day dreams, the
Jack the Ripper, without knowing it.

These considerations justify the assumption that
poets, artists and neurotics must show a precocious
development of the instinctive cravings, particu-
larly of the sexual. That is in fact the case. With
regard to artists this is well known, 1 the fact has

1 Cf. Dichtwag wad Neurose, J. F. Bergmann. Authorized
English version by James S. Van Teslaar.

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 47

been repeatedly mentioned as typical of criminals
and with regard to neurotics the analysts have been
able to prove it again and again.

We may now appreciate why all investigators
found that the sexual instinct awakens early in all
homosexuals. I want to make myself clear. We
owe to psychoanalysis the recognition of the fact
that the sexual instinct awakens early in all persons,
— a fact I have pointed out already during my pre-
Preudian period in my essay on "Coitus during
Childhood." But most persons repress their in-
fantile memories and later recall nothing about these
occurrences dating from their childhood. The
homosexual remembers everything and that fact is
pointed out as proof of his sexual precocity. Al-
ready as a child he knew that certain things per-
tain to the forbidden realm of the sexual. He re-
pressed from memory numberless particular inci-
dents among the vast number his memory could hold.
The fact of his precocity, he does not forget. But
at the same time all memories which do not happen
to fit into his system of ideas are either bedimmed
in consciousness or lost from memory altogether.
Sexual precocity is a fact brought out in all life
histories and confessions of homosexuals. And that
very sexual precocity shows us that the conditions
which lead to the repression of heterosexuality, are
traceable far back into the past and stretch well
beyond ordinary memory recall. Therefore,

48 BirSexiial Love

Krafft-Ebmg finds: "The sexual life of persons of
this type is usually manifest very early and is ab-
normally strong. Not infrequently it is associated
with other perverse manifestations, in addition to
the perverted direction of the sexual instinct peculiar
to this type of sexual feeling."

Further in the same work: "There are neuroses
present (hysteria, neurasthenia, epileptoid states,
etc. ). Nearly always there is also present either
temporary or permanent neurasthenia." (P. 259.)

We see now that the two statements correspond.
The individual becomes neurotic because he is un-
able to overcome the abnormally strong instincts.
Epilepsy as well as grand hysteria serve as means
for releasing the abnormally stressed instincts dur-
ing slumber states. 1 It would appear therefore
that a certain relationship must exist between homo-
sexuality and epilepsy ; in fact we shall take the op-
portunity later to report in full a case illustrating
that relationship.

These instincts involve not only homosexual and
heterosexual cravings. They include also sadistic
tendencies and mysophilia, koprophilia, necrophilia
and particularly the linking of sexual and criminal
tendencies. Neurosis represents them under gro-
tesque changes, attenuations, transformations, sub-
stitutions and exaggerations, all having counterpart

1 Nervosa Angstzmtaende. Die psychische Behandlung der
Epilepsie, 2nd edition, p. 336.

Theoretical: My Theory of Homosexuality 49

in the homosexual neurosis. The relations between
homosexuality and sadism are particularly interest-
ing and will be considered fully in the following
pages.

We may formulate our notion of the development
of homosexuality as follows : A person with abnor-
mally strong instinctive cravmgs is induced early m
life to surround these cravings with inhibitions.
The early awakening of his sexual instinct and its
prococious functioning bring him mto conflict. The
processes of repression and of sublimation set m to
deal with these cravings much earlier than in other
persons. For one reason or another the heterosexual
components are repressed and the homosexual are
evolved. The heterosexual cravings are hemmed 'm
and rendered useless by disgust, hatred or fear.

Homosexuality arises out of bisexuality as a re-
sult of certain particular attitudes which become de-
termined very early in life. But not always. Such
traits may appear also relatively late in life. Why
and under what conditions does that happen? In
the chapters next following we propose to take up
this problem.

n

The development of Sexuality — The Bisexual Ideal
of all persons — The fundamental Law of Sex-
uality — The role of homosexuality in Neurosis
— Womanly men and mannish women — Geron-
tophilia — Love of Prostitutes — The signifi-
cance of Sexual symbols — Various masks of
Homosexuality — Transvestites — A case of
Transvestitism — The significance of the hose
as a Symbol — Love at first sight — The critical
age — The pleasure Seeker — The case of a man
passing through the critical age — Neurotic
types of homosexuality — The Don Juan type —
Psychoanalysis of a Don Juan — Passionate
falling in love during advanced age, signifi-
cant — Analysis of a Don Juan.

Das Christentvm gab dem Eros Gift zu
trinken: — er starb zwar nicht daran, aber
er entartete zum Laster ± — Nietzsche.

II

Christianity has gkten Eros a poison cup;
Eros was not hUled thereby but has been
turned mto a tamt. — Nietzsche.

Freud who supports the theory of bisexuality
with all the weight of his authority, points out that
hitherto we have entertained wrong notions con-
cerning the nature of the relations between sexual
instinct and sexual goal. The sexual instinct is
at first independent of its object and owes not its
origin to the excitations roused by the sexual ob-
ject. The earliest stage of man he has designated
as autoerotic and he has described for us the infan-
tile form of onanism.

The development of sexuality may be conceived,
broadly, as follows : the first stage is autoerotic, al-
though allerotic stimuli are also present (suckling
at the mother's breast, caressing of the infant, etc.).
The child is more sensitive to all forms of excita-
tion and all vegetative functions are surcharged
with pleasurable feelings more strongly in him than
in the adult. Sexual life is autoerotic, but it is bi-

53

54* Bi-Sexual Love

sexually autoerotic. The child makes no distinc-
tion between the persons to whom it is attached.
Young or old, male or female, — it is all alike to
him. But autoerotism is characteristic of this sex-
ual life. Gradually this feature is overshadowed
by the appearance of the all-erotic tendency. At
first the child seeks to find the goal for its sexuality
among the possible objects of his limited surround-
ings. Just as the first period of autoerotism is
overcome so the normal fixation upon one's family
must be eventually outgrown. (Thou shalt leave
thy father and thy mother and follow thine hus-
band!) But even during the earliest period all
libidinous excitations are distinctly bisexual. This
bisexuality persists until the period of puberty,
that is, throughout that stage of sexual indifference,
of which Desoir also speaks. But the tendency to bi-
sexuality is unable to withstand the powerful stress
of puberty. The girlish boy becomes a man, the tom-
boy girl becomes a young woman. The develop-
ment of the secondary sexual characters displace
man's heterosexual characteristics with the stamp
of monosexuality. Usually at this time there de-
velops also a decisive struggle against homosexuality
leading, sooner or later, to the complete suppres-
sion of that tendency. (Naturally there are ex-
ceptions, as some persons retain their bisexual
character traits without trouble throughout life.)
I have not examined a person thus far in whom I

Latent Homosexuality 55

failed to recognise clearly ilve signs of juvenile
homosexuality.

It is proper to hold that the neurotics show them-
selves functionally bisexual. Among the neurotics
the males often have little or no beard growth,
plump and roundish bodily figure, high voice and
soft facial features, especially nose and lips; they
have small hands, small feet, their penis is remark-
ably small, scant hairy growth upon their mons
veneris, cryptorchism (undescended testicle), her-
nias. On the other hand neurotic women show
hairy growth on face, flat chest , strong, male
figure — more angular than is characteristic of
women, — large, full hands, large feet, disorders of
menstruation including amenorrhea (complete sup-
pression), infantile uterus, male larynx and deep
voice. I do not maintain that this is invariably
the case. Now and then I have met with excep-
tions; but I believe that a thorough investigation
would support this contention.

The tendency to neurosis is due to the strong in-
stinctive cravings which manifest themselves bi-
sexually.

There is a process at work which I am inclined to
designate as the fundamental law of sex. Accord-
ing to this law every individual tends to sum up all
his instinctive sexual cravings in one image. Every
person seeks the sexual ideal capable of satisfying
all his sexual longings.

56 Bi-Sexual Love

The sexual ideal of the ancients was, clearly, a
bisexual being. Divinity is the ideal erotic goal
magnified. The first divinities were always bi-
sexual. They were either women with a penis or
men with a female breast. The longing for the bi-
sexual ideal may be traced throughout humanity.
In his Banquet, Plato has excellently expressed this
longing in the well-known words of Aristophanes.

We feel that we are utilizing but a, portion of our
sexual energy and that the remainder is allowed to
remain fallow. The various sexual trends are
sometimes so split up in life that no part of them
is sufficient alone to furnish the whole driving
power for the proper sexual activity. This is the
case with those who apparently manifest a di-
minished sexual craving, as Freud and Havelock
Ellis have observed with reference to certain homo-
sexuals. This condition is only apparent, how-
ever, and analysis discloses that it is not real.
Persons of this type, apparently asexual, really vac-
cilate back and forth between various possible
sexual goals never reaching the stage of aggression,
because they are incapable of attaining a sufficient
summation of sexual libido. Their libido splits up
into a number of autoerotic acts, through which
the fore-pleasure instead of centering on a focus is
expended in small instalments, as I have pointed
out when I described the various forms of cryptic
onanism.

Latent Homosexuality

I repeat: the ideal of every person is to be able
to concentrate all libido upon a single goal. That
explains why the homosexual does not seek the
typical male, except in the rarest instances. Freud
has drawn our attention to this apparent contrast.
Many homosexuals, particularly those who, them-
selves, possess strong virility, do not seek out the
complete male for their ideal, but the womanly male.
They prefer the female type of man, men in female
clothes, or of female habitus, — a fact which has
shaped a great deal the course of male prostitu-
tion. The male prostitute endeavors always to
imitate the female through the use of trinkets, cor-
set, the adoption of articles of female apparel, close
shaving, peculiar gait and speech.

What the homosexual seeks consciously the latent
homosexual, as we designate the neurotic and, in
smaller measure, every individual who acts exclusively
as a heterosexual, endeavors to attain through
vague yearnings which he fails to .understand but
which are strong enough to break through.

Let us now turn our attention to these hidden
forms of sexuality, before attempting to explain the
rise of the manifest and of the overt forms of homo-
sexuality. Among the latent homosexuals who
struggle with all the problems of bisexuality which to
them appear unsolvable arid inscrutable, and who
have recourse to various compromises which bring
them some temporary relief, we may find the various

Bi-Sexual Love

,ransitional stages leading all the way up to the
overt forms of homosexuality.

Latent homosexuality is a fact, not uncovered by
analysis, but analysis has tremendously enlarged
our understanding of the mental processes involved.
The deeper we penetrate into the psychic mechan-
ism of the neuroses and psychoses, the more vital
appears to us the role of homosexuality. The dif-
ference between my method of analysis and the
customary anamnesis is shown nowhere so clearly,
as in connection with the disclosures of the neurotics
regarding their hidden homosexuality. No other
component of the sexual instinct undergoes repres-
sion to such an extent or shifts so far from the
sphere of ordinary consciousness. I know persons
who have frankly adopted a great many forms of
paraphilia but have completely repressed the homo-
sexual component of their condition. I have an-
alysed, for instance, a young woman who had quite
an eventful life history. She became neurotic be-
cause she could neither master nor suppress her
homosexuality. Like all other neurotics she skil-
fully covered her homosexuality and this trait of
hers remained unknown to her consciousness.

It will be helpful to the beginner, therefore, to
know the various disguises which serve as masks for
homosexuality. As is well known, all neurotic symp-
toms are the results of compromise and they cover,
on the one hand, as much as they disclose, on \\n

Latent Homosexuality 59

other. The tendency to adopt compromises, which is
typical of the split personality, is a subject worthy
of special consideration. The most antagonistic
impulses are stressed and summed up under the same
symptom. This tendency to adopt compromises
governs the mental life of the neurotic. It is seen
in dreams as well as in political life, in artistic prod-
ucts no less than in neurotic symptoms. If the need
to adjust opposing tendencies under some com-
promise is not met successfully a condition of un-
certainty arises, — of vacillation and doubt. Doubt
is the result and the sign of unsuccessful com-
promises.

This superficial building up of compromises is
seen most clearly in the case of homosexuality. The
neurotic endeavors to focus the most divergent
tendencies of his psyche upon the same goal. His
ideal is a being at once male, female, and infantile
(and perhaps also beast and angel at the same time).

The neurotics always describe their ideal in a way
which corresponds to this polymorphous picture.
The males rave about women of a strikingly manly
bearing; heavy, angular figure, flat chest, energetic,
bony facial features, short hair, deep voice, traces
of facial hair or of a mustache. The hidden bi-
sexual ideal is thus partially fulfilled (Woman with
penis or man with vagina!). The repressed crav-
ings, thus partly freed, serve during sexual agres-
sion and further the attainment of gratification.

60 Bi-Sexual Love

When nature fails to meet these needs, external
features, such as dress and ornaments are brought
into play to enhance the illusion. The symbol is
made to replace reality. Men fall in love with
women who wear tights (or who sport mannish
hats, officers' coats, walking canes, etc.) and con-
sequently they are attracted by actresses, fencers,
cycle-riders, mountain-climbers, horseback-riders, or
by girls whom they chance to see in under-pants.
Others require of their sexual objects the adoption
of various male symbols before their libido is
roused. The woman, appeals to them, for instance,
at best, wearing a military blouse, a mannish hat, or
in some male attitude or other, capable of yielding
a suggestion of something genuine.

Women display parallel tendencies. They fall
in love with men who are beardless, gynecomastic,
men who have a large panniculus adiposus, broad
hips, delicate throat, female voice, or who wear
long coats and long hair. I will quote here only a
few examples: the priest, the physician in his
hospital coat, particularly surgeons with graceful
arms, female impersonators, beardless men, or men
with high voices who perfume themselves and wear
bracelets, and artists with long, flowing locks of
hair are likely to prove very attractive. (Perhaps
the great erotic attraction exercised by all artists is
due to their pronounced bisexual character.)

Physical factors are also of great significance.

Latent Homosexuality 61

Women who smoke, ride, go mountain climbing and
who are generally aggressive, make a very strong
impression upon the neurotic. This is true also
about the influence of men with strong womanly
features upon women. Many neurotic men dream
of being overpowered. (The "pleasure without
guilt" principle!). Energetic women fascinate
them, just as delicate, sensitive men fascinate the
hysterical woman.

Less known are other masks of homosexuality
which I now mention. The love of old women
(gerontophalia) and passion for children often
covers a homosexual tendency. Persons deviating
from the complete male or female type often prove
irresistible for the same reason. Age eventually
wipes out the typical secondary sexual characters.
Man becomes like an old woman and old women ac-
quire remarkable male features (including mus-
tache) and male habits. Children also may figure
as a strong bisexual attraction since they lack the
secondary sexual characters.

A peculiar cryptic form under which male homo-
sexuality manifests itself, is the love of prostitutes.
The unconscious factor which here appeals to the
homosexual component of the sexual libido is the
fact that the body of the prostitute has been prev-
iously enjoyed by other men. 1

1 Hirschfeld relates several instances illustrating how hetero-
sexual potence may be increased by the fires of homosexual

62 BiSexual Love

This process, — mediation through the other sex, —
plays a great role in homosexuality in various
other ways. The prostitute may be enjoyed only
in the presence of one or more male witnesses. The
carrying out of coitus jointly in one room, looking

passion: A merchant relates: "I am able to carry out sexual
intercourse with women, only if I keep thinking of the man
who possessed the woman before me." A young workingman
from Berlin relates: "When I was 17 years of age and I saw
young men of my age pick out sweethearts for themselves I did
the same. Later, as man, it seemed natural to me to get a
woman, although my own inclination had little to do with it.
The physical excitation necessary for the carrying out of the
sexual act I could rouse in myself only by thinking of some
male person. This sort of thing exhausted me and after a
time I decided to give it up. I felt myself strongly attracted
to a relative at that time. He was younger and as I had
greater influence over women I helped him by putting him in
touch with some and so we often carried out coitus together.
Seeing him [go at it so hotly] excited me tremendously and
then I carried out coitus without any difficulty." The proprie-
tor of a German hotel also relates that, before intercourse
w^th his wife, he was in the habit of rousing his passion by
kissing his head waiter. This furnished him the'requisite sexual
preparedness and as quickly as possible he hurried to his wife,
whose bed was in the next room." Hirschfeld writes further:
"These sketches from life I want to conclude with the account
of a patient who consulted me for sexual hyperesthesia which
in his case was so keen that seeing the statuettes of naked
children ornamenting the Berlin castle bridge while crossing
it was enough to cause erection. He was a merchant, 42 years
of age. In order to obtain potentia coeundi it was necessary
for him not only to think, but also to speak aloud of some
pleasing man, in some such manner: "Did you notice that
servant of the count's, who called for a bundle this forenoon,
how did you like him? A neat boy, what? His livery seemed
quite new! Didn't you think it fitted him a bit too tightly?
How old should you say he was?" Only by carrying on such
talk with his wife, and he had to exercise the greatest in-
genuity in order to cover his object while doing so, was he
able to achieve ejaculation, and to beget children, — he was the
father of three."

Latent Homosexuality 63

on, or allowing onlookers, also betray this motive
besides others.

In many cases the form of sexual intercourse
preferred betrays a, latent homosexuality. Men
choose to lie underneath, or carry out coitus a
posteriori, or per anum. Women show correspond-
ing preferences. They attain supreme enjoyment
only if they are on top during intercourse. Many
paraphilias (fellatio, cunnilingus) betray a homo-
sexual trend besides showing sexual infantilism.

Various external signs may betray a strong homo-
sexual trend or mark a sudden outbreak of it. Men
suddenly decide to cut or shave off their beard.
They unexpectedly turn their interests to sports
which give them the opportunity of watching men
undressed. They become passionate fans around
prize rings, are seen at sun bathing establishments
and sporting places, or rave about the culture of
nakedness as a hygienic fad, etc. Women suddenly
find that they cannot possibly wear their long hair
and decide to cut it short. Sometimes they do it
without telling their husband so as to 'pleasantly'
suprise him. They change fashions, take readily
to English jackets, tight coats and Girardi hats
and begin to show tremendous interest in the
emancipation of women.

Joint suicide as a mask is a subject to which I
can only refer briefly. Persons who do not have

64i BirSexual Love

the courage to live together are the ones likely to
commit suicide jointly. The suicide of two friends,
male or female, is often due to unsatisfied homo-
sexuality, however ideal, apparently, the motives
may be. A life which does not yield to the full
gratification craved by the unconsciously operating
instincts, loses its zest. Frenssen states: "Sun,
moon and stars no longer carry any message to one
who has lost interest in them; a thing degenerates
unless cultivated assiduously; it is so with every-
thing. Indifference deadens; love breathes life into
everything."

I have already pointed out in my treatise on
Onanism that those who have not given up the
habit may give expression to tendencies distinctly
homosexual through their autoerotic acts. The
feeling of guilt is due in part, although only in
part, to this cause. The greater hold the habit
has upon the individual the stronger also seems the
homosexual trait back of it. Many onanists are
asocial in their inclinations and avoid group life.
But I know a number who are enthusiastic 'joiners,'
belonging to numerous organisations and always
eager to assume honorary membership in all sorts
of clubs. That female lawyers are particularly apt
to show homosexual tendencies is well known and
the fact is often exploited in the comic papers under
slight disguise.

Latent Homosexuality 65

Lastly, I must mention another important form
of masked homosexuality : the artistic. Poets whose
preference is the delineation of female characters
are partly homosexual. They perceive accurately
the female emotions, they are able to portray with
fidelity the life of that sex, because they carry
within their breast, as it were, a goodly portion
of womanhood. Chamisso described so wonderfully
womanly love, because he himself was largely woman,
as his portrait is enough to indicate. Painters may
also show the reverse tendency. They paint pref-
erably male scenes or, as sculptors, create statues
of men. Their appraisal of esthetic values betrays
their hidden homosexuality. Some artists find the
male figure much more beautiful than the female,
others find the male body repulsive. An overstressed
aversion betrays the homosexual trend as clearly
as an emotionally overstressed preference.

The choice of a pseudonym may also prove a
characteristic sign. Just as the transvestites
(wearers of clothes of opposite sex) clearly show
their homosexual peculiarities thereby so do men
choosing a female pseudonym for their contribu-
tions or writings, often betray their homosexuality
by the act. Of course, in the case of women, the
choice of a male nom de plume is determined partly
by the well known common notion that works obtain
a wider circulation if attributed to male author-

66 Bi-Sexual Love

ship. At any rate, it betrays a desire to be taken
for a man, by the readers, at least. A woman
writer whom I know and who is active under a male
nom de plume has told me, as an objection to this
view, that she is decidedly interested in men. She
confessed herself a Messalina. But back of such
an unsatisfied craving, there stands, as I have al-
ready mentioned, homosexuality, the blind instinct,
ungratified. This woman preferred relations with
well known "women killers," typical Cassanovas.
Obviously, the thought of the numerous female con-
quests must have furnished here the chief attraction.
Such men carry about them the aroma of many
women. They must be proven masters of the art
of love and a woman is disposed to expect of them
special thrills and, possibly, new refinements of the
art; but the heroes, as a rule, when tried fail to
come up to the expectations lodged in them ; they in
turn become easily tired of their new conquest. The
unsatisfied homosexual male is incapable of grati-
fying completely the love hungry homosexual
woman. (That is the tragedy back of many un-
happy marriages.) It is also significant that this
woman, who otherwise had allowed herself an un-
usual degree of freedom about sexual matters, looked
upon homosexuality as Tabu.

I have mentioned only a small number of the
possible masks of homosexuality. Some of the

Latent Homosexuality 67

screens are so transparent they cannot but be
noticed even by those who are still novices in psycho-
analytic matters. One marries a girl, for instance,
after falling in love with that girl's brother; or a
girl marries the brother of her homosexual choice,
as I have clearly shown in connection with the highly
instructive case history No. 93, in my study of
Anxiety States.

For this reason a friend's wife may be a very
dangerous person and this mediation of homosex-
uality through a third person has often been the
cause of terrific household dramas. I know men
who are regularly prone to fall in love with their
friends' sweethearts, naturally, without suspecting
that back of this proclivity there stands the hidden
passion for their friend.

In conclusion I may point out another very sig-
nificant mask of homosexuality. I refer to psychic
impotence, which shows itself particularly during
attempted intercourse with respectable women. Men
potent with prostitutes but unable to carry out
coitus with a 'decent' woman, are latent homosex-
uals whose libido is sufficiently roused in the pres-
ence of the prostitute by the realisation that the
woman has been used before by another man. Of
course, a relative impotence of this character has
many other determinants. But the factor here men-
tioned is never absent.

68 Bi-Sexnial Love

The study of this cryptic form of homosexuality
alone will enable us to appreciate the > inestimable
role of bisexuality in the mental life of modern man.

Other forms of masked homosexuality, manifested
in phobias and compulsion, I must mention only
superficially. There are men who become extremely
uneasy if some other man walks directly behind
them, men who are unable to remain with another
man alone in a room, men who always dream of
scenes in which some man points a revolver or knife
at them, or who have the uncomfortable feeling that
some hard substance, perhaps nothing more than an
indurated cylindrical mass of faeces, is pressing
within their rectum. With these peculiarities such
men betray their homosexuality, just as the para-
noiacs do with their delusions of persecution.

Women show similar phobias and more especially
morbid anxieties often centering around servant
girls. Women who change servant girls continually,
who worry themselves over the servant problem or
quarrel with the girls, or feel impelled to touch them
(acts which really take the place of sexual deeds)
are frequently homosexual. Similarly, various forms
of fetichism may be a cover for homosexuality.

It is plainly obvious that the study of sexual
masks promises to further immensely our knowledge
about matters of sex. At the same time it is clear
that the opposition of many circles to the new studies

Latent Homosexuality 69

must remain a tremendous one. Possibly a great
deal of the opposition to the new psychology has
its roots in this very peculiarity of human nature.
Their basic bisexual predisposition is precisely what
men are least disposed to recognise.

These general statements I now propose to prove
on the basis of various observations from my prac-
tice illustrating the great role played by the homo-
sexual components in the love life of average men
and women. This will show clearly why I never
use such terms as "contrary," or "inverted" sexual
feeling, and why I never speak of "inversion," or of
"perversion," when I discuss homosexuality. The
very purpose of this work is to bring out the homo-
sexual components in the life of every person and to
bring out the normal feature of that state. For
normal is everything that is natural; and from the
standpoint of nature we are never monosexwal and
always bisexual.

I regret that I must contradict so worthy an in-
vestigator as Hirschfeld. But I fail to understand
the need of setting up, besides the hetero- and homo-
sexuals, a third group, the so-called transvestites. 1
Among the transvestites (personifiers) we find the
most pronounced examples of masked homo-
sexuality and stressed bisexuality. This is a desig-
nation proposed by Hirschfeld for men who — obey-

1 Die Transvestiten. Eine ZJnterswchung meber den Erottechen
V erkleidimgstrieb. Alfred Pulvermacher. Berlin, 1910.

70 Bi-Sexual Love

ing an overwhelming inner impulse — wear women's
apparel and for women who similarly attire them-
selves in things belonging to a man's wardrobe.
In the course of an extensive review (Zentrbl. f.
Psychoanalyse, vol. I, p. 55.) I pointed out
that it is unnecessary to consider the transvestites
as a distinct sexual species, but that they are merely
bisexual persons with strong homosexual leanings.
Hirschfeld lays great emphasis upon the fact that
the transvestites experience normal sexual feelings,
being subject only to the impulsion to change their
clothing for that of the opposite sex. Un-
fortunately here he takes into consideration only
the conscious sexual manifestations. He considers
merely the facts as they appear upon the surface
neglecting the important mechanisms of repression
and masking, — the tendency to play before, and
with, one's self. The data obtained upon super-
ficial examination must be subjected to careful
analysis; then the results are most surprising.
Analysis invariably reveals that there is no such
thing as monosexuality and that the transvestites,
like the homosexuals, have their repressions. The
homosexual represses his heterosexuality, the
transvestite his homosexuality. In his phantasy
the man is a woman (the woman fancies herself the
reverse) and thus he combines the two components
of his libido. It were nothing less than doing vio-

Masks of Homosexuality 71

lence to facts to attempt to distinguish the trans-
vestites from the homosexuals.

As one reads carefully the cases published by
Hirschfefld, with an eye for signs of homosexuality,
one cannot fail to note characteristic traits of
homosexuality in every one of the cases. For in-
stance, one of them carries out succubus m coitu,
which is clearly a symptom of latent homosexuality ;
if he appears as a woman, the men who follow him
cause him nausea. Another was able to carry out
the heterosexual act only under the influence of
alchohol, and when going out in women's clothes was
fond of eating in the company of men and coquet-
ting with them. A third is repelled by the thought
of homosexual relations, but dreams of pregnancy,
plays succubus in coitu, and fancies that his wife is
a man. The fourth hugs his wife tightly, sinks his
nails into her ears, etc., so as to gain the illusion of
being overpowered through sheer force by some
man.

Then, most interesting of all, case 12: A man
who during four years of married life has carried
out coitus only once. This subject actually be-
trays an open inclination towards homosexuality,
which Hirschfeld declares is only apparent. . . .
How is one to determine between an apparent and
a real homosexual trend? In order to succeed in
that one must purposely overlook the phenomenon

73 Bi-Sexual Love

of human bisexuality and be anxious to hold on at
all costs to the notion that homosexuality is inborn
and irreducible.

The transvestite last mentioned relates concern-
ing his homosexuality: "About homosexuality I
learned for the first time through reading the book:
Die Enterbten des Liebesglnechs. Some passages
gripped me powerfully, even more so than the works
on masochism, of which I also had read a large
number. As I had to renounce my womanly
ideal (for reasons mentioned previously), it oc-
curred to me to seek a man as the complement to my
yearnings. For even the strongest woman wants to
be beneath man during love. But I felt I needed a
partner who should overpower and conquer me with
some display of force. So I said to myself that
such a role can be filled properly only by a man. A
great deal of what I read in books about homo-
sexuality confirmed me in this view."

If this is not a tell-tale rationalization of homo-
sexuality — what may we designate as homo-
sexuality?

Comments are hardly needed in this connection.
Oh all sides and from all directions homosexuality
is proven in the history of the case. But Hirscfa-
feld finds that the tendency to homosexuality is only
apparent and that the whole foundation of the sub-
ject's libido consists of transvestism. The homo-
sexuality he looks upon as an incidental manifesta-

Masks of Homosexuality IIS

tion. But there are no 'incidental' manifestations
in our vita sexualis. A dream, which has also been
reported, shows conclusively that M., the subject,
was all along actuated by the thought: I wish I
were a woman. But there are passages in this case
history showing how highly the subject esteems the
male and proving that this wish is an infantile atti-
tude and due to a feeling of inferiority. What else
should we conclude from the statement: "For the
genuine man, who belongs to the proudest speci-
mens of his sex, sexual gratification is merely a
hygienic requirement, a form of physical release;
beyond that his wonderful creative spirit dwells in
higher realms . . . etc."

In the chapter devoted to masochism I explain
the meaning of a case like the above more fully.
The man wants to be a woman and to be over-
powered. He is able to have relations with women,
if they assume the aggressive role. His mind in-
sists upon the fictive notion: I am a woman and I
am forced to carry out this part. Naturally he
shifts towards homosexual acts. The male trait in
him tolerates no submissiveness. The female trait
lends itself readily to coercion. The neurosis con-
sists in this suppression of the male components of
the sexual instinct.

A careful reading of the following case history
will show clearly the homosexual roots of the
tendency to personify the opposite sex:

74 Bi-Sextuit Love

Mrs. H. S. consults me on account of complete
sexual frigidity during her marital relations. She
is twenty-four years of age and had married at the
age of 19. Her marriage was a love affair. She
has always been of a loving and sensuous disposition
so that from the age of 14 her mind was pre-
occupied mostly with sexual fancies and thoughts.
At the age of 15 she fell in love with an uncle. His
kisses roused her passion and she would have readily
yielded to him. The father observed what was
going on and forbade her uncle the house. She
lived in the Country and met no men under circum-
stances which could have endangered her. She was
19 years of age when she first met her present hus-
band and she fell rapidly in love with him. She
withstood her parents' opposition and married the
young man in a few months. Already during her
engagement she said to her husband: "I don't be-
lieve one man will be enough for me. You must
watch out for me. . ." During the first few weeks
of married life her husband was impotent, and this
drove her nearly to distraction. After her husband
underwent some medical treatment he succeeded in
rupturing her hymen and in a few months she be-
came pregnant. For a short time during that first
pregnancy she experienced complete orgasm. After
that her feeling for her husband disappeared en-
tirely and she felt very dissatisfied. Her whole
character changed completely. Previously she had

Masks of Homosexuality 75

been happy, joyous, always in good humor. Now
she became quiet, lived a retired existence, avoiding
men in particular because she was afraid of them.

Deeper investigation of the case shows that, after
the death of her father, to whom she felt attached
by bonds of deepest affection, she became sexually
anesthetic. The father was a very earnest, strong
man who adored his pretty wife and he was a model
of loyal and dutiful husband. The mother was an
artist who, after the death of her husband, lost all
interest in life. She could not stay alone and
abandoned the country place to live with her
daughter in the City. I suspected that the sudden
onset of anesthesia probably coincided with the
mother's arrival in the house. Might she not hide
some special attachment for her mother?

She emphasized that she felt the greatest com-
passion for her mother, who had lost her sup-
port in life. For her mother's sake she would have
gladly taken her father's place, if such a thing were
possible. And further she declared:

"You would probably find it almost unbelievable,
if I told you that I strongly wished I were a man,
at the time. I kept thinking of mother all the
time! You see — she is so pretty and young yet,
so full of life! I also know that she is a very
passionate woman. How could she get along with-
out a man? Now, I must confess something,
though it is very hard for me to express it. You

76 Bi-Sexual Love

know already a number of my pet fancies. But
there is another which I have persistently kept from
you till now. I wanted to put on father's clothes,
as I have a few of them in my possession, and to go
to mother's bed at night. I acquired a sort of an
apparatus . . . for the purpose. But I did not
quite have the courage. I put on the clothes but
stayed in my room. I kept standing before the look-
ing glass for hours, looking on."

"Did the clothes fit you?"

"To tell you the truth, I had used some of father's
old suits for a long time before that. I got hold
of them under all sorts of pretexts. I wrote him,
for instance, that I wanted to give his unused
clothes to a worthy poor man. Then I had them
altered for a figure of my size and was glad to wear
them while my husband was away. Already as a
small girl I remember I was fond of wearing my
brother's clothes."

"Do you recollect your thoughts while you were
wearing your brother's clothes?"

"Oh, I do. I played I was papa. For a time I
felt really dissatisfied because I was a girl. I en-
vied all boys."

"Later, too, after you were married already?"

"Certainly ! Do you know, I have never mustered
enough courage to do something downright dis-
loyal. But I was thinking, if I were a man, I could
never remain true. I have always envied men. In

Masks of Homosexuality 77

fact, with my soul I felt myself more like a man."

"What were your feelings during the time you
were in love with your husband ?"

"I had plunged headlong into love and forgot all
about my liking of men's clothes. During that time
I felt altogether womanly. Especially when I be-
came a mother. Then all my dreams about manli-
ness disappeared."

"That was also the only time when you enjoyed
your relations with your husband ?"

"I have never thought of the two things to-
gether. But you are right. For a short time
during that period I was entirely womanly, until
father died. . . ."

"And your mother came to live with you !"

"Yes. . . that is so. . . . Do you mean, that
then I wanted again to be a man? Now, I can con-
fess to you that I always envied father on account
of mama. I used to think that if I were a man, I
should certainly be in love with mama."

The further analysis reveals interesting details.
Repeatedly she dreams that she is a man and that
she has a phallus. She dreams also that she urin-
ates standing after the manner of men. She admits
that, already as a child, she loved her mother pas-
sionately. She had also overheard a number of
times her parents getting together in bed and once
she watched them in the act of coitus, peeping
through a key hole. She was deeply excited by

78 Bi-Sexual Love

what she saw and thought that her mother must
have suffered great pain and that only the father
found pleasure in the act. This infantile conception
of male gratification has remained with her to this
day. Her favorite expression: "If I should come
again into the world I would want to be a man."
The homosexual attitude towards the mother de-
prived her of libido during her marital relations.

I suggested that she should separate from her
mother but she resented scornfully this suggestion.
She would rather give up her husband. Some time
later she actually did so. She now lives with her
mother. I was greatly surprised one day, when
she called on me clothed in male attire. She re-
quested from me a certificate to the effect that she
was an abnormal person and should be permitted to
wear man's clothes. She had heard that in Berlin
a number of women had been granted such a permit
by the police on the strength of such a statement
from a physician.

Upon being questioned regarding her sexual life
she states that she now maintains relations with a
man who, before the sexual embrace, puts on
women's clothes. This rouses great orgasm in her.
Regarding her relations to her mother her answers
are elusive. But I must not think, she adds, that
she is a "Urlinde." The thought of such persons
only fills her with disgust. Her mother is now
nierely her dearest friend.

Masks of Homosexuality 79

It is plain that this woman has repressed her
homosexual love for her mother and is satisfied with
the symbol of masculinity, the wearing of trousers.
The man whom she meets in embrace, becomes for
her a woman, through the wearing of feminine
articles. Thus the two partners carry on a comedy
in which the heterosexual act replaces the longed-
for homosexual embrace.

I am familiar with a number of instances in which
a man dressing like a woman, or the reverse, was the
means of rousing sexual passion, or, at least, of in-
creasing it enormously. Whenever this happens it
is plainly a manifestation of latent homosexuality,
— a condition of which Blueher appears to have a
very poor opinion. Although he seems to agree
with my views otherwise ("today it is no longer
possible," he says, "to hold that homosexuality or
heterosexuality is inborn; instead we must recog-
nize that bisexuality is inborn in every individual,
with a special predilection in one direction or the
other,"), he makes a distinction between "healthful
inversion" and an outbreak of latent homosexuality ;
one condition he considers aboriginal and in keeping
with cultural development, while the other "arises
out of the depths of the unconscious, through the
removal of the inhibitions. . ." This view is also
contrary to facts. Blueher, like Hirschfeld", is in-
clined to consider latent homosexuality as 'pseudp,'

80 Bi-Sexual Love

as something unnatural, and accordingly passes
judgment upon it. The practical observations
gathered in the course of my practice do not co-
incide with these theoretical assumptions. I know
only one kind of homosexuality, and that is always
inborn. Also, I find it always linked intimately
with heterosexuality. Awareness of one's own
homosexual tendency or lack of it is not a reliable
guide. If the number of consciously homosexual
persons be estimated at 2 per cent., we may confi-
dently assert that there are 98 per cent, of persons
who know nothing of their homosexual traits, or
rather that they do not want to know anything
about them.

As we become familiar with the various masks of
homosexuality, we learn to appreciate surprising
homosexual and heterosexual trends. I shall draw
attention merely to the manifold significance of
"trousers" in human love affairs. How often men
fall in love with women only when and because they
are seen in tights ! I remember a number of class-
mates in high school, who had fallen in love with a
singer, when they saw her in a role which she played
wearing tights. Grillparzer apparently fell in love
once in his life and very passionately. It was with
the singer to whom he absent-mindedly sent his
famous poem. She had appeared upon the stage as
a Cherub in tights. The woman wearing the
trousers is a by-word, — a typical compromise.

Masks of Homosexuality 85

This is not the only case of its kind of which I
know. I know men who, when going to houses of
prostitution request the women to retain their
drawers when undressing. Others actually demand
that the girls should put on male trousers. These
latent homosexuals are well known to the prosti-
tutes. They remain passive and expect the woman
to be aggressive. This shows they maintain the
fiction that they are females and they require rela-
tively but little in the form of overt acts to main-
tain this fiction in their mind. Many an instance
of love at first sight is induced in the same way.

Case. Z. I. A man, 48 years of age, had several
light love affairs, was twice unhappily married.
After the second separation — some six years pre-
viously — he left women severely alone because he had
a poor opinon of them. He used to say : all women
are worthless decoys and it is a pity to turn a single
hair grey on their account. In the circle of women
haters he was known for that reason as the decoy-
man. His physical sexual needs he satisfied with
prostitutes or street acquaintances. Beyond that
he avoided women and sought only the company of
men. It was obvious that he was drifting away
from heterosexuality and leaning towards psychic
homosexuality. Then it happened that he agreed
once to sit as a model for a woman artist. The
sculptress was in ordinary clothes and had made

86 Bh-Sexual Love

no particular impression on him. She asked him to
wait a few moments and then she stepped out to
put on her working clothes. When she reappeared,
a few moments later, he was astonished. She wore
a long white coat, which covered her whole dress, a
pleasing little cap, under which she had tucked her
hair to protect it against the dust, and a pair of
glasses which she wore only when working. She
appeared so attractive that he fell in love with her
that moment. He did not hide his feelings but im-
mediately hastened to make up on the spot what he
had lost in six years of opportunities to worship at
the shrine of womanhood. She accepted his com-
pliments good-naturedly. He fell in love with her
as he had never been in love before. A few weeks
later he proposed marriage, but she politely refused.
She had made up her mind never to marry. But he
did not give her up ; on the contrary he pursued her
with his attentions and tendernesses. His club and
all his cronies he abandoned. He was head over
heels in love, like a frisky boy, and held that now
he knew the meaning of love. One of his friends
proposed to cure him of his infatuation and told him
in confidence that he had heard the sculptress was
a homosexual who maintained relations with a chorus
girl wearing tights. The whole town knew about
it. It was an open secret. This information had
the contrary effect upon him. His passion reached
such a point that life seemed to him worthless with-

Masks of Homosexuality 87

out her. He struggled with thoughts of suicide
and told the beloved about it. This made a strong
impression upon her and she stated frankly: she
would agree to be his sweetheart, but his wife, never.
For a time he fought against accepting this com-
promise, desiring nothing short of a union for life.
Finally he acquiesced. She was a virgin no longer
and told him that she had already been her in-
structor's sweetheart. That is why she did not
want to consider marriage. With her instructor,
however, she had never achieved orgasm. His em-
brace left her cold. She could achieve satisfaction
and orgasm only with the aid of manipulatio cum
digit o.

Z. I. remained faithful to her for a few years and
during that time tried several times to induce her to
consider marriage. He was always most excited
when he saw her wearing the apparel which had first
roused his love for her. They always met in her
studio while she was wearing her working clothes.
Finally his love cooled and he returned to the society
of his woman-hating companions. An attempt to
have intercourse with a girl in his employ failed him
and he called for advice.

He believed himself impotent. But it was merely
the homosexual trait which comes to the fore at this
age in various manifestations which physicians call
the climacterium of man.

Analysis disclosed that the woman sculptor was

88 Bi-Sexual Love

the cousin of one of his favorite old school mates,
whom she resembled closely. This young man also
wore, while at work in his laboratory, a white coat,
like the sculptress. It was this similarity that
roused his libido so tremendously. The young man
had become engaged a few weeks previously. He
disapproved the young man's step on various
grounds. (A young man should not jeopardise his
scientific career on account of a woman.) He was
in love with the young man without realising it. The
transference of the feeling into a heterosexual one
was mediated through the fact that the woman
looked like her cousin and the costume also helped
to transfer some of the homosexual tendencies into
the heterosexual channel.

In connection with this case I may make a few
remarks about the so-called climacterium of man
and about woman's critical period. The psychic
process is well known, in so far as it involves a
parting from one's youth, and it has been repeated-
ly outlined and described. The whole love instinct
of man rebels against growing old and fosters the
utilization to the utmost of the opportunities dur-
ing the few remaining years. The milder the sexual
life in the past, the greater and more stormy be-
comes the need of making up for lost opportunities
"while there is time."

But the significance of homosexuality during this
critical period is a matter which most investigators

The Critical Age 89

have overlooked. It may be that the involution of
the sexual glands brings the opposite sex into
stronger relief at this period. One who conceives
bisexuality as a chemical process — and there are
some data apparently supporting such a view — may
speak of the conquest of man's heterosexuality over
homosexuality. Hirschfeld would say of a man:
as he now produces less andrin the gynecin achieves
upper hands. Perhaps many cases of so-called late
homosexuality (Krafft-Ebing) may be explained in
this manner. I have known a man who, up to the
50th year of his life, has had no sexual experiences
and who was also unaware of his homosexuality.
At that age he happened to drift into the company
of homosexuals and now he is a confirmed member
of the third (intermediate) sex. Possibly the out-
break of homosexuality leading all the way to para-
noia — a subject which I shall take up more fully in
another chapter — depends on changes in the sexual
glands, these changes leading to characteristic psy-
chic expression.

In the last case disappointment after marriage
(both women proved unfaithful to the man) induced
the breaking forth of the homosexual tendencies.

The behavior of those persons who do not care
to acknowledge their homosexuality is character-
istic. So passionately do they fall in love, their
impulsion to loving is so tremendous that every new
passion surpasses all previous experiences.

90 Bi-Seantal Love

This peculiarity gives us an insight into the men-
tality of the Don Juan type, the desolute adventurer,
and the Messalina type. . .

The flight away from homosexuality leads the in-
dividual to overstress his heterosexuality (with the
formulation of compromises and the adoption of
homosexual masks) but that seldom yields the satis-
faction craved by the individual* The sexual ad-
venturer is always a person who has failed to find
proper gratification. He who has found complete
gratification becomes thereby master of his libido
and knows the meaning of satiety. When the grati-
fication is only apparent the craving leads soon
again to new adventures. Just as the compulsory
acts of neurotics cannot be permanently removed,
because such acts are only symptomatic and stand
for hidden cravings, the unsatisfied homosexual
longing which stands masked under an apparently
excessive heterosexuality cannot be completely
gratified on that path. The sexual instinct, — as
Freud has pointed out — is of complex character and
is seldom brought into play in its full form. Man's
unattainable ideal is the whole instinct, undivided
and unhampered in any of its component parts;
falling in love manifests the expectation of a gratifi-
cation previously unattained.

During man's critical period — as well as woman's
— a number of troublesome compulsion neuroses are
likely to break forth and these have been erroneous-

The Critical Age 91

ly attributed to excitement, overwork, and other
secondary factors. Every compulsion neurosis ap-
pearing at this period is a complicated riddle through
which the subject aims to hide before his own con-
sciousness no less than before the world at large the
true significance of the psychic impulses which re-
assert their supremacy at the time. Frequently
back of the various symptomatic acts it is possible
to discern the clear mechanism of defence against
homosexuality.

The next case shows an interesting array of sym-
bolisms and of symbolic acts, which are easily under-
stood if one has the key to the psychology of such
mental processes.

Mr. B. experiences the outbreak of an acute neu-
rosis at 60 years of age. Suddenly he becomes ob-
sessed with the fear of tuberculosis. He is firmly
convinced that he is a victim of the disease and the
reassurance of famous specialists quiets him only
for a few days. He reads all popular works on
tuberculosis as well as the scientific works of Cornet,
Koch, and other investigators. He has worked out
for himself a systematic method for the cure of
tuberculosis. He holds, in the first place, that cold
air is the best, and takes long walks out of doors,
sleeps with all windows wide open, goes to Davos
and generally prefers winter sporting places. He
is a confirmed believer in the theory of infection

92 Bi-Sexual Love

through particles of sputum and therefore avoids
the proximity of . . . men.

"Why be afraid specially of men? May not
women also carry the infection?"

"No; women do not expectorate so vigorously.
Men spit all over, women only close by !"

"How do you know these things ?"

"You see, I have given the matter a great deal of
thought and I have studied the subject. I thought
to myself, coughing and urinating are very much
alike. In both operations products of the organism
are removed from the body. A woman urinates
with a small stream which does not reach far. But
many men urinate with force and are able to throw
out their stream, — a distance of several feet."

Already this statement showed that back of the
fear of consumption there stood some hidden sexual
motive. B. carried the analogy still further:

"Men are also able to ejaculate, while women only
omit a little moisture which trickles down upon their
parts ... At any rate, I am particularly afraid
of infection through some tubercular man."

I inquired into the circumstances under which
this fear first showed itself and how long he had it
and in reply received the following interesting con-
fession :

"For a long time I lived with a nephew who oc-
cupied a separate room in my home. My married
daughter came once to pay us a visit because her

The Critical Age 98

child had whooping cough and she was advised that
a change of air would be beneficial."

(It is characteristic that he was not afraid of
catching whooping cough, although he knew of a
serious case,-^-an elderly man who had caught the
infection and as a result was seriously ill for months.
The fear of tuberculosis thus shows itself to be a
misdirected notion.)

"It became necessary for me to share with my
nephew the same sleeping room," continued the man.
"He had but recently returned from Meran and was
considered cured . . . But you know, how these al-
leged cures turn out upon closer examination. Dur-
ing the night I became uneasy and several times I
heard my nephew coughing. I noticed that he did
not sleep, and I also could not fall asleep because
the thought tormented me that I would surely catch
the infection. The first thing I did next morning
was to call my physician; he laughed at me but
upon my persistent questioning he told me: 'If you
are as afraid as all that, you better sleep in a
separate room!' I did not wait to be told twice
and for a number of weeks after that I slept at a
hotel. But here too, I began to think, perhaps
some tubercular man has occupied the room before
me, and could not sleep! I had night sweats and
after that I no longer believed the physicians' re-
assurances and was convinced that this was a sign
of the first stage of consumption. . . ."

94 Bi-Sexual Love

We note that the elderly gentleman had become
homosexually roused by the presence of his nephew
and this craving appeared to his consciousness
masked under the form of a fear of tubercular in-
fection.

"I could tear my hairs out by the roots, to think
that I had done such a foolish thing!"

"What foolish thing?"

"I mean, sleeping in the same room with my
nephew. If I had at least put up a Japanese screen.
But, unfortunately, one does foolish things without
reflecting upon the consequences. . . ."

B. also displays various compulsory mannerisms,
the meaning of which becomes obvious once we ap-
preciate that, in his case, 'tuberculosis' really means
'homosexuality.' As he walks upon the City streets
he meets a man coming his way. While still at a
distance he steps aside or crosses on the other side;
he no longer shakes hands with any man, not even
with his friends; one may become infected with
tubercle bacilli in that way. All places where men
are seen naked or in partial undress, such as gym-
nasia or bathing resorts, are breeding spots for
tubercular infection.

Moreover, B. shows some female traits in his
nature. He has shaved his beard because hairs may
be nests for tubercle bacilli ; he has become emotion-
al, whining and he is unable to arrive at decisions
promptly. He finds the fashion of wearing short

The Critical Age 95

coats not "dressy" and wears a long coat that has
almost the appearance of a jacket. (Similar man-
nerisms are found in J 'ean~ Jacques Rousseau; vid.
his Confessions.)

This case is one of almost complete outbreak of
femininity, closely allied to the paranoiac forms,
which will be considered more fully in another
chapter. He is also jealous of his wife and thinks
he is slighted, — that he is not given the proper de-
gree of attention. He is excitable, sleepless, dis-
satisfied with life. After a few hours the analysis
is given up.

Such persons are tremendously afraid of the
truth ; they wander from physician to physician and
really want but one thing: to preserve their secret
and to devote themselves more and more to their
hidden homosexuality. If the condition were once
disclosed before their eyes they could not continue
their indulgence so easily. They always break up
the treatment after a few hours under some pretext
or other'and this justifies the suspicion that, sooner
or later, they come to regard the physician also as
a man and, transferring their homosexual attach-
ment to the physician they flee from the danger of
being together with the object of their love.

This case illustrates, I believe, what remarkable
masks the outbreak of the homosexual trait is cap-
able of assuming. Similar masks are the fear of
syphilis, the fear of "blood poisoning," and the dread

96 Bi-Semtal Love

of physical contact with other persons or objects.
The fear of syphilis covers also other dreads.
Formerly I thought that syphilidophobia was only
a mask for incest craving. I am now convinced that
it stands for "forbidden love" generally. Syphilis
stands as a symbol either for incest or for homo-
sexuality. 'Becoming infected* means: 'being op-
pressed' by homosexual or incestuous tendencies.
These figures of speech are suggested by the every
day use of language. One hears, for instance, that
the whole city of Berlin is infected with homo-
sexuality; the opponents of homosexuality fight
against the plague which threatens the whole German
nation; young men are warned against being in-
fected with homosexuality. It is not surprising,
therefore, that the morbid expressions of neuroses
assume similar figurative forms.

The rise of such morbid fear during advanced
age is always suspicious of an outbreak of homo-
sexuality, against which various protective devices
are thus raised. If I should attempt to describe
all these forms of outbreak and all the protective
devices I would have to write a special treatise on
anxiety states. We well know already that all
neuroses have a bisexual basis. But, what is more,
I maintain that homosexuality plays a far greater
role in the development of neurotic traits than any
other suppressed instincts.

The Critical Age 97

I am now turning my attention to a character in
whom homosexuality would hardly be suspected as
a motive power. I refer to the Don Juan type of
personality. The Messalina type I shall describe
in connection with my study of sexual anesthesia in
woman. But the Don Juan character deserves
special attention in this connection.

One would think that a man who devotes his whole
life to women, who dreams day and night only of new
conquests, who considers every woman worth while
when opportunity favors him, a man for whom no
woman is too old, or too ugly, if he desires her, —
that such a man would be far removed from any
homosexual trend. Yet the contrary is the fact
and the greater my opportunity to study the
'woman chaser' the stronger my conviction becomes
that, back of the ceaseless hunt, stands the longing
after the male. Though many explanations have
been offered for the Don Juan type, — that proto-
type of Faust's — none has solved satisfactorily the
riddle of his psyche. Only the recognition of latent
homosexuality promises to clear for us the meaning
of this character.

What are the typical character traits attributed
to the Don Juan type? His easily stirred passion;
secondly, his indiscriminate taste; thirdly, his sud-
den cooling off. Of course, there are any number
of transitional forms and mixed stages.

98 Bi-Sexual Love

I choose for examination the fundamental type,
as he is known to me through a number of concrete
examples. This triad: "quickly roused, not par-
ticular as to choice, just as quickly cooled," admits
of numerous variations. Particularly the choice of
the sexual object is something that in many woman
chasers becomes determined on the basis of particu-
lar fetichistic preferences, such as red hair, vir-
ginity, a particular figure, a special occupation, etc.
The Don Juan collectors of women are differen-
tiated into various distinct classes. I knew one who
for his record of adventures specialized in widows.
The shorter the period of widowhood the greater
was his ambition to make the conquest. Only
women in mourning attracted him. But beyond
this point he was not particular. It made no dif-
ference to him whether the woman was young or old,
beautiful or homely, so long as she was a widow in
mourning. His greatest pride he took in his con-
quest of widows on the burial day.

Oskar A. H. Smitz, (in his Cassanova unci Andere
erotische Charaktere, Stuttgart, 1906, quoted after
Block), has attempted to trace a fine distinction be-
tween the Don Juan and the Cassanova type : "Don
Juan is a deceiving, cunning seducer to whom the
sense of possessing the woman, the feeling of danger,
and the pleasure of overcoming resistance and of
exercising his manly strength are the chief things,
but he is not erotic, whereas Cassanova is the erotic

Don Juan and Cassanova 99

type par excellence; he, too, is tricky and remorse-
less, but he craves the satisfaction of his sensuous
needs rather than of his sense of power. Don Juan
sees only women, for Cassanova every woman is "the
woman." Don Juan is demonic, devilish, he de-
liberately plans the destruction of the women who
yield to him and drives them to perdition, while
Cassanova is humane, he is always interested in the
happiness of his sweethearts and preserves of them
tender memories. Don Juan hates woman, he is a
typical misogynist, the satanic type of woman hater,
whereas Cassanova is a typical feminist, he has a
deep and sympathetic understanding of woman's
soul, he is not deceived by his love affairs but needs
continual intercourse with women as the condition
of his happiness. Don Juan seduces through his
demonic character, with the brutal, and wild, at-
traction exercised by his uncanny power, Cassa-
nova achieves his conquests through the more re-
fined gentle atmosphere generated by his charming
presence."

Block introduces a third type, the pseudo-Don
Juan, or more correctly, the pseudo-Cassanova, —
the adventurer perennially disappointed in his con-
quests, of whom Retif de la Bretonne is the nearest
widely known type. He is continually looking for
the true love and never finds it. While I admit that
the seducer as a type belongs to one of these catego-
ries, I must designate all three classes mentioned

100 Bi-Sexual Love

above, that is, the Don Juan, the Cassanova, and the
would-be type of either, as bearers, alike, of a latent
homosexuality. None of them finds his ideal. Retif
de la Bretonne is the perennially disappointed
type, and true love is something he can never find ;
in his love he displays considerable dependence on
woman. He portrays the hopeless flight to woman
and away from man. Cassanova feels all the time
impelled to prove to himself how seductive a fellow
and man he is and every new conquest gives him a
new opportunity to do so. Woman is to him but a
means to enhance his sense of virility. He must not
depreciate his conquest for the glory of his achieve-
ment would be lessened in his own eyes if he were to
do so.

The Don Juan type is close to the level which
leads directly to the well known Marquis de Sade
type of character. He scorns woman because she
is incapable of yielding to him all the gratification
for which he yearns. He is perennially searching
for release and in that respect bears some re-
semblance to the Flying Dutchman who is similarly
in quest of love and whom the quest leads eventually
to death. But I cannot concur with the idea that
these types are so sharply differentiated as Schmitz
and Block are inclined to maintain. We meet the
finest gradations and the most varied combinations.
Moreover individuals change, their character shift-

Don Juan and Cassanova 101

ing from one type to another by imperceptible de-
grees in the course of time.

I propose to consider Don Juan as the repre-
sentative of the type of seducer, irrespective of
further variations. In fact it is characteristic of
all the types mentioned above that they are alike
unable to remain loyal in their love. And, in my
view, this is the most important characteristic.

Ready excitability, scorn of womankind, latent
cruelty, and perennial readiness for love adventures
are traits which show that, in the last analysis,
Don Juan represents a type of unsatisfied libido.
For him the most important moment is the con-
quest of the woman. In the joy of this conquest
there is betrayed something of the scorn of woman
which plays such an important role in the lives of
all homosexuals — whether latent or manifest. For
the genuine Don Juan the conquest of a woman is
a task which apeals to his play lust. Will he suc-
ceed with this one, and with that one, and with the
third woman? Each new conquest reassures him
that he is irresistible, magical in his charm, so that
he can say to himself: thou art a real man! He
must reassure himself over and over that he is fully
a man because he fears his femininity too strongly ;
with the aid of his feminine trait he is the better able
to achieve his conquests among women because that
trait enables him the better to feel and know what

102 Bi-Sexual Love

every woman wants. He is really but a woman in
man's clothes. His narcissistic character (the
morbid self-love) requires continually new proofs
of his irresistible powers. This type of man, one
who practices all sorts of perversions on women and
in this very changing of the manner of his loving
betrays his insatiable quest for new and untried
gratifications, never permits himself any homo-
sexual act, although he is far from particular other-
wise and has run the gamut of tasting all ugly and
forbidden fruit. Homosexuality strikes this type
of man as disgusting and unbearable, he must spit
out when meeting a fellow of that kind, he would
have all men and women of that kind in jail, he
would have them rooted out as one would a plague.
Towards homosexuality his attitude is emotionally
overstressed, showing that this negative form of
disgust and neurotic repulsion really covers the
positive trend of longing. But at the same time
he looks for women who are mannish in appearance
and who lack the secondary sexual characteristics,
thin, ephebic women, matrons and girls who are so
young as to look like children and thus represent
really intermediary stages towards manhood.

Certain aversions, which Hirschfeld has described
as antifetichistic, sometimes disclose the homosexual
character of their libido and the protective means
adopted against the recognition of homosexuality.
One man dislikes woman with large feet, another is

Don Jiuin and Cassanova 103

repelled by women with hair on their bodies. Such
a woman causes him to have distinct nausea. A third
one is repelled by the presence of hair upon the
woman's upper lip, or by a deep voice. There are,
besides, all sorts of transitional types. One seeks
only the completely developed and typical female
figure, another is attracted particularly by the
type of woman resembling the male figure but with-
out disdaining the former type.

His search is endless because he is truly, though
secretly, attracted by the male. His sexual goal is
man. Through each new woman he expects to ex-
perience, at last, the completely satisfactory grati-
fication which he craves. But he turns away from
each one equally disappointed because his libido
cannot be fully gratified by any of them. In the
manner of his conquering and abandoning each
woman he shows his scorn of the sex. The true
woman lover is really no Don Juan because he
distributes his sexual libido among a few women at
the most and the emotional overvaluation of these
women furnishes the key to his attitude towards the
whole sex. Don Juan makes love in a manner ap-
parently as if he respected womankind. But the
cold manner in which he dismisses his victims betrays
his complete contempt for the sex. He admires only
the women who withstand him and whom he cannot
subdue. Such resistance may lead eventually to the
marriage of a Don Juan, a marriage which neces-

104 Bi-Sexual Love

sarily proves unhappy and he continues his former
life. For the step has not furnished him what he
is really seeking, man has eluded him again.

Closer examination reveals the characteristic fact
that frequently the choice of lovers is determined
by homosexual traits of one kind or another. The
Don Juan who runs after married women may be
goaded on by the fact that he likes the physical ap-
pearance of their husbands. Naturally the thought
heightens his feeling of self-esteem because it must
be a harder task to induce the wife of a handsome
man to deceive her husband than it would be to bring
to one's feet the wife of an ugly man. A Don Juan
told me once: "I have possessed all sorts of women,
but never cared for the wife of a simpleton. I have
always considered it beneath me and not worth while
to deceive a fool." Here we have a type of man
desirous to measure his wit against that of a sharp
rival. (If you are so very sharp, why don't you
look out better for your wife!) The emphasis here
is really upon the fact that he likes the husband,
admires him, and considers him a bright man. Be-
fore he makes up his mind to get a woman he must
like her husband, and he can be attracted only by
intelligent men. That condition is imperative be-
fore he engages in any love adventure. Maupassant
describes this type of man in one of his stories. The
hero is interested only in married women whose hus-
bands attract him and are among his friends. I

Don Juan and Cassanova 105

give the history of an extreme case of this type in
my chapter on jealousy in the present work.

H. O., 49 years of age, is undergoing a severe
mental crisis. He relates that he was happily mar-
ried, until an actress crossed his path. He fell so
deeply in love he could not leave her, he neglected
his home, was unable to follow his calling and was
on the point of committing suicide. It was not his
custom to cling for long to any one woman. Usually
he changed sweethearts every few weeks.

"Did you say that your married life was happy?"

"Yes; that has never troubled me. I cannot be
true to any woman. I must change all the time. I
am a polygamous being. This woman is the first to
whom I feel loyal and true right along, I did not feel
so towards my wife and only a few weeks after mar-
riage I preferred the embrace of other women, but
this sweetheart of mine, — she has taken me off my
balance entirely, to her I am loyal. Think of it ! I
stand for her going with other men, who support
her. Who could have told me that I would come to
this ! Every little while I decide to break with her
and never see her again. I have sworn it to my wife,
who is heartbroken over the affair. But I am too
weak . . . Save me ! Free me from this terrible
plight! Restore me to my family."

.... This man's life history is typical of the
neurotic. He understood sexual matters and

106 BifSemml Love

masturbated at a very early age. He began to
masturbate as early as the sixth year at school and
thinks that he can even trace the beginning of the
habit to an earlier date. He had many play mates
with whom he carried on the "usual childish games."
These "usual childish games" turned out to be fel-
latio, pederasty, manual onanism, and zoophily.
The children pressed into service a dog who by lick-
ing the parts produced the highest orgasm in them.
The last homosexual love he carried on at 14< years
of age. He and a colleague performed mutual
masturbation. Once the two were warned against
the dangers of masturbation and they went together
to a house of prostitution. This they kept up for
a long time because it increased their satisfaction.
Often they exchanged their sexual partners. (This
is not an uncommon practice through which latent
homosexuals achieve a heightening of their orgasm
and cryptically reach after their male companion.
In houses of prostitution this practice is common
among friends.)

In a short time he developed into a genuine Don
Juan. At 16 years of age he had already become
a full-fledged woman hunter and succeeded in at-
tracting his high school professor's wife as his
sweetheart. He went after every woman, young
or old, pretty or plain. He claims that old women
have yielded the highest pleasures and shows me a
letter in which Franklin advises young men to cling

Don Juan and Cassanova 107

to old women. But this pronounced gerontophiliac
tendency does not prevent him from having rela-
tions with girls below age, almost children. His
whole thought, night and day, was concentrated
upon women. His first thought upon rising in the
morning usually was: "What adventures await me
today?" If he finds himself in a room with a
woman alone invariably he thinks: "How can I get
her?" Every woman he gets hold of he looks upon
merely as a means for gratification and soon tires of
her. With the exception of one elderly woman whom
he occasionally visits he has not kept up with any
woman longer than a few weeks. Often after the
first intercourse he feels disgust for his new sexual
partner and thinks to himself: "You are not any
different than the others!" Since his 16th year
he has had intercourse almost daily and often
several times a day. He was 32 years of age when
he first met his present wife. Her father was his
superior at the office, a man for whom he had the
very highest respect. ("There are not many
such men as he.") He married the man's
daughter, whom he held high in esteem high above
all others of her sex, and it was a very happy mar-
riage. His only fear was that his wife would find
out about his amorous escapades. For no woman
was safe near him and even during the early part of
their married life he kept up sexual relations with
their cook. Finally he managed to control himself

108 Bi-Sexuul Love

at least to the extent of avoiding any escapades
under his own roof so as to be more sure of keeping
his wife in ignorance of his amorous proclivities.
But he always kept on the string a lot of women
and girls who were at his disposal whenever he
wanted any of them.

He became acquainted with a young man whom
he liked a great deal. But there was one thing
about that young man which repelled him: he was
homosexual and proud of it. This was something
he could not understand and he endeavored very
zealously to rouse in his friend a love for women.
He failed completely; on the other hand his new
friend introduced him to the local homosexual circle,
in which he became interested merely as a "cultural
problem." He frequented a cafe where homosexuals
were in the habit of congregating and noticed that
many among them were of pronounced intellectual
caliber. He was particularly impressed by the fact
that their common peculiarity levelled so com-
pletely persons of different social standing. A
Count met a waiter or post office clerk as cordially
as he would a most intimate friend. A few weeks
later he met the sister of his new friend and fell
deeply in love with her at first sight. That was his
tremendous attachment.

It was plain that contact with the homosexuals
had released some of the inhibitions which had kept

Don Juan and Cassanova 109

back his own latent homosexuality and the latter
trait now threatened to overpower him. There was
but one safeguard against that, namely: flight into
love. The attachment, to his friend became now a
passionate love for his friend's sister, who resembled
her brother very closely. During coitus with his
new sweetheart it occurred to him early to give up
succubus, and to try the anal form of gratification,
and this produced in him tremendous orgasm such
as he had never before experienced.

His wife was informed through anonymous letters
of the state of affairs. Moreover he had become
very weak in his sexual relations with her and was
able to carry on his marital duties only with greatest
difficulty.

Psychoanalysis brought wonderful results in this
case. He learned quickly to recognise his emotional
fixations and only wondered that he was too blind
not to have seen for himself that he really loved the
brother through that woman. He broke with the
actress in a dignified manner. He proposed that if
she should give up her intimate relations with all
other men he would keep his word and marry her.
He still loved her but he was no longer in the dark.
She laughed in his face. Did he really think that he
could meet the cost of her wardrobe and other needs?
That put an end to the attachment. He was
ashamed afterwards to think that he should have

110 Bi-Sexual Love

preferred such a woman to his wife. The analysis
of a remarkable dream brought about the complete
severing of his infantile fixations.

The dream : J am with Otto — that was his friend's
name — m a room. He walks up to me and says:
"Don't you see that I love you and want you!" I
try to a/void his love pats and draw a revolver out of
my pocket. I hold it high and am ready to shoot
my friend. But instead of my friend I see standing
before me my son, and my boy's sincere blue eyes
look up at me imploringly: 'Protect me I' I throw
down the revolver and run out of the room.

His young friend resembled somewhat his boy to
whom he was specially devoted just before the un-
fortunate love affair. . . .

This case shows that sometimes a great and pas-
sionate love arises to save the lover from himself.
There are times when it becomes necessary to love
and then the object of one's love, though falling
short of the actual yearnings of one's soul, becomes
emotionally overvalued so that the intoxication of
love leads to forgetfulness (like every other intoxi-
cation). Any love affair which breaks out during
later life rouses the suspicion that it is an attempt
to save one's self witli all one's might from homo-
sexuality. The characteristic signs of such a love
are its exaggerated and compulsory character. The
lovesick man is unable to keep away from his sweet-
heart; he wants to have her by his side all the time;

Don Juan and Cassanova 111

she must accompany him everywhere; even in sleep
he puts his hand out to his sweetheart as if to pro-
tect him from every temptation. And I have seen
cases in which the curious infatuation was able to
withstand all opposition when it must be looked upon
as a successful healing process.

In the course of analysis it not infrequently hap-
pens that those who call for advice transfer their
attachment to their consultant, feel tremendously
attached to him and in this state of emotional readi-
ness the first woman who happens along becomes the
object of their most intense love emotion as the
shortest way out of a sexual danger. The sexual
danger in question is homosexuality.

Don Juan, Cassanova, Retif de la Bretonne, — all
flee from man and seek salvation in woman. Retif
is a foot fetichist. The choice of this fetich,
typically bisexual, already indicates latent homo-
sexuality. Insatiable woman hunters often end their
flight away from homosexuality by falling into the
deepest neuroses.

The next case history illustrated this fact:

G. K., a prominent inventor, 32 years of age,
consults me for a number of remarkable compulsory
acts which he must always carry out before retiring
for the night. He must prove about twenty times
to make sure that the doors are all locked. Then
he goes through the house and submits every foot
of the place to the most painfully detailed and care-

112 Bi-Sexual Love

ful search to make sure that no burglar is hidden
anywhere. He looks not only under the beds but
into every box and drawer and closet, opening and
closing each one in turn, and very carefully. One
can never tell where a burglar may hide himself!
By the time he has concluded this search it is nearly
midnight. The terribly arduous procedure fatigues
him for he has to look everywhere, emptying even the
book cases in the course of his search for fear that
the burglar may be hidden back of the books, and it
is midnight when he crawls into bed, although he
begins his preparations around ten o'clock. Then
he is usually tormented with doubt whether he has
done everything. It occurs to him that he did not
go into the nursery at all, where his three children
are asleep. The boy's room, too, has not been
searched. Jumping out of bed he lights a candle
and in his night toilette makes his way to the chil-
dren's rooms, unable to rest any longer. The girls
are already accustomed to seeing him that way,
nevertheless they jump out of their sleep scared.
In his white nightgown, like a shadow, he moves
from place to place with lighted candle in hand,
looks under the children's bed, under the servant
girl's bed and incidentally makes sure that no man
lies by her side in bed. During these rounds every
door and every window is tried whether it is safely
locked. It is now long past midnight. Exhausted
he retm-ns to his bed. Again various doubts begin

Don Juan and Cassanova 118

to torture him: did or did he not try this, or that,
or the other particular door, is the gasometer safely
turned off, and again in his thoughts he rehearses
every detail. His logical faculty tells him : you have
done everything, you need not have any further con-
cern, it is high time you went to sleep ! But logic is
powerless when his doubts overpower him. Again
he rises and takes a few additional precautions which
I need not detail here. Thus it may be three or four
o'clock in the morning and even later before he is
finally through. Then he lies down in his wife's
bed and wakes her up. Only after coitus, which he
carries out regularly every night, he falls asleep.
But by that time the night is over and the dawn is
just breaking. He remains in bed exhausted, often
sleeping till past the noon hour, much to his wife's
disgust. The whole house is in uproar. The chil-
dren wake up but are taken to another wing of the
house because "papa is asleep and must not be
waked up !" As he is very wealthy, he has his way.
The servants are paid extra well so that they are
willing to put up with "that queer household."
Afternoons he is at work in his chemical laboratory.
His researches have made him famous. He is a very
capable chemist, possessing wonderful ideas and
his patents have brought him a great fortune.

In addition to all that he is obsessed by another
compulsory thought, which seems very extraordi-
nary. Continually he wants to know how everybody

114 Bi-Sexual Love

likes his wife and whether she is still considered a
pretty woman. Regard for her appearance is his
greatest concern. Many afternoons he spends with
her in the fitting rooms of modistes and tailors. He
reproaches her for not knowing how to dress tastily,
and scolds her because she does not take proper
care of herself. On the other hand he is entirely
indifferent regarding the manner of her appearance
in the house. He is greatly concerned only with
the impression his wife makes upon other men. It
also disturbs him if other women do not find his wife
beautiful but he worries more if men fail to notice
her. As he dreads evenings he spends the time in
the company of friends. (Thus the ceremonial on
retiring is delayed and he sleeps to a late hour into
the day.)

His chief thought is his wife's appearance. If a
man says to him: "Your wife is charming today!"
or if some stranger says to him : "Who is that beauti-
ful woman?" as has actually happened at balls and
entertainments he feels supremely happy. Or, if he
introduces his wife to some man who gallantly re-
marks later: "I did not know that you had such a
charming wife!" his happiness knows no bounds
and his wife has a good time in consequence. The
very next day he buys her a costly gem, he is tender
with her and bestows upon her pleasant flatteries.

But, on the other hand, if he sees that his wife
passes unobserved in a crowd, or if there is some

Don Juan and Cassanova 115

other pretty woman in the room, he feels unhappy.
Then he meets his wife with severest reproaches be-
cause she does not know how to dress attractively,
he growls, and raves, and is angry for several days
until another event takes place and his wife is
again noticed by men and women when he quiets
down. He cannot endure to hear that some other
man also has a pretty wife. He does not rest until
he meets that woman and is happy if some one says
to him: "Your wife is really prettier." But if he
hears that another woman is praised and his wife
is not mentioned at same time he feels again very
depressed and his wife pays unpleasantly for it. His
uncles — he has no brothers— all have pretty women.
His chief concern is to find out whether his wife
is really the prettiest. He asks this question fre-
quently of his acquaintances, in an offhand manner
of course, for he would not have them suspect his
feelings for anything in the world and the opinion
of a man towards whom he is otherwise completely
indifferent often determines his disposition for the
whole day. He is happy if he notices that some
one is making love to his wife. On the other hand it
troubles him if he sees there are young men around
and they fail to gather around his wife. He is not
jealous because he knows his wife well, can trust her
and, besides, she is never alone. She is either with
him or in her mother's company. That is why he
is very happy to see men gather around her. He

116 Bi-Sexual Love

goes with her wherever any beauty contests are on
and spends a great deal of money to make sure
that his wife will win the prize. If another woman
is the winner it makes him unhappy and he genuinely
envies the man who possesses or will possess such
a woman.

In spite of all that, the man is a Don Juan and
was never true to his marital vows. He maintains
a second house where he receives girls and also such
of his friends' wives as find favor in his eyes and
are willing to accept his attentions. As he is a well
preserved, stately man of most attractive appear-
ance he is very lucky with women.

Besides that he receives a number of girls in his
laboratory where he has fitted out a room for this
purpose. Not a day passes in which he does not
possess some woman — any woman — in addition to
his wife. He looks well, though occasionally a little
pale, feels physically very fresh and energetic. He
works really but two or three hours a day. In this
brief time he accomplishes more than other men in
a day's grind.

The character of his sexual gratification is note-
worthy. While carrying out normal coitus with
his wife, with the girls and other women he indulges
in the kind of practices which furnish him the great-
est orgasm. He gives them his phallus which they
take hold of, and kisses them, dum puella membrtm
erectum tenet et premit. He carries out coitus if

Don Juan and Cassanova 117

the partner requests it. But the act is interrupted
and again exchanged for hand manipulation. As
he is a very potent man, he is able to satisfy the
woman and still has time to withdraw his penis be-
fore ejaculation and put it in the woman's hand to
be manipulated by her. There have been also vari-
ous other indulgences. He has tried everything.
The form of gratification just mentioned he prefers
to all others. A certain feeling of shame has pre-
vented him from asking his wife to do it for him.

His anamnesis is very fragmentary. He remem-
bers no particular incidents of childhood or early
youth. He began to masturbate very early and up
to the time of his marriage masturbated regularly
every night before falling asleep. Already before
marriage he had had such compulsory habits, but
usually he was through his bed time searching in
about one half hour. At any rate he masturbated
daily even when he had intercourse with women. He
never took women to his house. They always came
to his laboratory. He is greatly attached to his
mother who is yet a very attractive woman and
shows great veneration for his father who brought
him up with strict but just discipline and who
showed some light neurotic peculiarities.

He recalls no homosexual episodes. He mastur-
bated excessively and began intercourse with women
at 18 years of age; after that he rapidly became a
confirmed woman hunter but he developed a very

118 Bi-Sewual Love

particular taste. All his women had to be very fair,
have a pretty, round, strongly feminine figure, a
delicate tint and be, above all, very beautiful. Yet
a very white and smooth skin would make up for the
lack of other points of beauty in his eyes. With
the perfectly white face he required dark, fiery eyes.
This type of beauty seems to coincide with his
mother's who was a remarkably attractive woman
and who to this day carries with great dignity the
obvious signs of her former great beauty.

He had also certain antifetichistic peculiarities.
If he notices hair on a woman's body, for instance,
at once she loses all attractiveness in his eyes. Such
a woman he finds as disgusting as a woman with a
mustache. Equally disgusting to him are all
women with sharp figures and no breasts such as
remind one of a man. "A woman should be a
woman," is his favorite remark. He despises all
"blue stockings" and emancipated women and has
requested his wife to drop the acquaintanceship of
a friend of hers who had taken an interest in vari-
ous women's movements.

In the course of the analysis he refers continually
first of all to his wife. According to him he has
married an angel of patience. It takes great love
to endure this man's moods and whims. But the
wife loves him devotedly and has learned to stand
everything from him because she knew that he loved
her and she said to herself: every man has his

Don Juan and Cassanova 119

peculiarities. She was contented and the house
vibrated with her happy laughter. If he troubled
her with his foolish reproaches she did not pout for
long. On the contrary she soon smiled forgiveness
so that their married life was really a model.

He insists that his wife is an ideal person. When
early in the course of analysis one confesses such a
deep affection, the opposite feeling, scorn, is sure to
become disclosed before long. First the advantages,
— then the disadvantages. But this woman seemed
to have no unpleasant component in her nature. He
could tell only favorable things about her and about
his concern regarding her beauty.

But before long — in the course of a few weeks —
the tone of his talk changed. There was another
trauma about which he felt he must tell me, some-
thing of tremendous significance which had shattered
his whole married life. At the time of his marriage
he had resolved nothing less than to give up his Don
Juan adventures and to be true to his wife. Just
before marriage he had been carrying on with six
different girls at the same time and it kept him on
the jump to keep each woman from finding out about
the others. He wanted to live quietly after mar-
riage and be true to his wife. He had also resolved
solemnly to give up masturbation after marriage.
As a married man this would be easy, — instead of
masturbating before going to sleep he would have
intercourse with his wife.

120 BirSexual Love

Before the marriage ceremony he became obsessed
with the thought that his bride might have hair grow-
ing on her breasts. That would be unbearable. He
was on the point of demanding that his bride should
be examined by a physician but, as a man of high
standing, he was ashamed to make such a sugges-
tion. During the bridal night he discovered a few
light hairs on her breast and a light soft down on
her abdomen. He was so shocked that he would
have wanted to send her back to her parents. For
months after that he was very unhappy and every
night he wept over his misfortune. His great hope,
to find a woman who would take the place of all
other women in his life, was gone.

This notion about his wife's hairs made him most
unhappy and prevented his moral resurrection. He
had planned to turn a new leaf. But he continued
to feel himself irresistibly attracted to beautiful
white* women with marble-like smooth skin and no
hair to remind one of a man's body.

The most remarkable feature, characteristic of
the whole case is the fact last mentioned.

The man is avowedly bisexual with a strong lean-
ing towards homosexuality. This homosexual trend
was gratified up till that time through masturbation
— as he has pointed out. He sought contact with
fully developed women, to forget man. He wanted
a very beautiful wife because he imagined her beauty
would serve to drive away from him all thought of

Don Juan and Cassanova 121

man and to focus his libido exclusively upon her.
He wanted to have the prettiest woman in the world :
Helen. If his wife's appearance pleased other men,
this so roused the homosexual component of his libido
that he enjoyed sexual intercourse with her more
keenly. Above all he wanted to avoid the thought of
man. The anxiety on account of man came over
him particularly before retiring at night and it was
a morbid anxiety over masturbation at the same
time. In his head, within his brain, man was a living
thought, something that threatened him and de-
manded release. But this was also something his
consciousness refused to recognize and therefore the
thought of man tortured him and he could not fall
asleep. He projected this intruder into his room
and it led him to search his empty closets for a non-
existent man, as if saying to himself: I have no
trace of any homosexual leaning whatever! That
is what he actually told me when I referred to the
homosexual significance of his compulsory acts:
such a Don Juan as I ! I have devoted myself com-
pletely to woman. The thought of man is repulsive
to me.

I explained to him that disgust is but a hidden

form of longing. If he were indifferent to the

thought of man it would be more convincing.

"Well then, I am indifferent to the thought."

Thus he tried to convince me that he was not

homosexual. But we conceive that the hairs he

122 Bi-Setmal Love

discovered upon his wife's body reminded him of the
fatal homosexuality. He felt so unhappy over it
he was considering a separation on that account.
Whatever reminded him of man was painfully un-
pleasant to him. He threw himself into love adven-
tures to forget man. He gave up his clubs and
male companions because he wanted to be all the
time in the company of his wife.

I pass over for the present the further significance
of his neurosis as disclosed by the analysis of his
dreams. I shall only give an example illustrating
how untrustworthy are the statements of those who
attempt to give an account of their lives ahd insist
that they remember everything accurately. This or
that particular kind of incident, they are sure, has
never occured in their life. Regarding sexual mat-
ters all men lie consciously, unconsciously and half-
consciously.

After further, continuously progressive analysis
the subject himself came to the conclusion that he
must have been struggling against homosexuality.
Now he understood his sudden decision to get mar-
ried, after having maintained right along that he
would remain a bachelor. He was interested at the
time in a laboratory assistant, a young man with
pretty rosy cheeks. He showered gifts upon that
young man and planned to give him an education so
as to have a friend always close to him. The first
compulsory acts appeared at the time. He married,

Don Juan and Cassanova 123

felt unhappy for a time but for a few years he lived
at least a relatively quiet life. Then another man
came into his life destroying his peace of mind, a
man who had lived for some time in foreign countries
and now returned to his fatherland. This was an
uncle.

Now he recalls something of which he had not
thought for many years — for he was going to keep
this from me, — namely, that he had maintained cer-
tain intimacy with this uncle for about a year. They
lived in a boarding house where they occupied a room
together. The uncle always came to lie in his bed
and they played with each other before falling
asleep.

His uncle carried out the kind of manipulations
which he now required of his women lovers : manual
gratification. During his relations with his wife,
however, he wanted to avoid all thought of homo-
sexuality ; she should not practice this form of grati-
fication for him nor should her body remind him of
homosexuality. She must save him of the burden of
homosexuality which still plagued him under the
form of onanism.

After resurrecting this memory a mass of other
homosexual data came trooping forth out of his
past.

This man was strongly bisexual from childhood
with particular predisposition towards the male sex.
As a child he did crocheting and showed various fe-

124 Bi-Sesmal Love

male characteristics. After the onset of puberty
his homosexuality was strongly repressed, persist-
ing chiefly under the guise of onanism. For the act
of masturbation takes place just before falling
asleep in a half dreamy state during which he thinks,
though indistinctly, of his uncle and of other men.
The latent homosexuality was the most important
factor in his neurosis.

The result of the analysis was most gratifying in
this case. The subject soon abandoned his com-
pulsory acts and was able to sleep quietly. His life
became regular; he ceased being a Don Juan. He
allowed his wife to carry out those manipulations
which seemed essential for his orgasm and for his
peace of mind. Occasionally I see him.

These observations show that in the dynamics of
the "polygamic neurosis," homosexuality plays a
tremendous role. The observation that every love is
really self-love receives new confirmation. Don
Juan seeks himself in woman and finds in her that
femininity which has turned him into a Don Juan.

In his book {Don Juan, Cassanova and other
Erotic Characters) already mentioned (Stuttgart,
1906), Oskar A. H. Schmitz states:

"Cassanova would not begrudge woman the pos-
session of all those traits which are called 'male,'
through ignorance, just as he himself has been de-
scribed as possessing manj female traits. The di-

Don Juan and Cassanova 125

vision of mankind in men and women is a great con-
venience. But he who undertakes to investigate
erotic problems to their bottom must bear in mind
that there are no absolute male and female persons
any more than there are persons who are purely
quick tempered, good-natured, envious, Germans or
Semites. All these designations, like Theophrast's
characters, represent so many psychic elements
which must have a name. But they are met only in
various combinations which may be compared and
contrasted with chemical combinations. I believe it
is noticeable that men of over-stressed virility do not
necessarily appeal to women, who find them, instead,
partly repulsive, partly amusing. On the other
hand it is certainly true that all female tempters
were remarkable for their intellect and wit — some of
them were veritable amazons intellectually — and we
note in our own day with great reason the disap-
pearance of the "crampon" together with the leaning
instinct of Epheus. Even the disappearance of Don
Juan may be due partly to his overstressed virile
characteristics. The erotic temperament includes a
number of female traits ; such peculiarities as tender-
ness, vanity, talkativeness need not interfere with his
amorous adventures."

Ill

Diagnosis of Satyriasis — Priapism — A case of
Satyriasis — A second case of Satyriasis — A
case of Nymphomania — Proof that the cravings
represented by this condition are traceable to
the ungratified homosexual instinct.

Wenn man die Utzten Furiken emer Leidenschaft
im Herzen tragi, wird man sich eher emer neuen
hingeben, als wenn man ganzlich geheilt ist.

La Rochefoucauld.

Ill

So long as the last ember of a passion still glows
in the heart it is easier to rouse a new passion than
if the cure is complete.

La Rochefoucauld.

The last case has shown us that cryptic sexual
goals which remain hidden make for unrest and in
Spite of frequent sexual experiences bring about a
state of sexual insatiety, endless hunger, longing
and unrest. Man's unsatisfied instinct drives him
like a motor to all sorts of symbolic acts ; it induces
him to taste all gratifications which are not under
the sway of inhibition, robbing him of sleep and rest.

All the symptomatic acts we have mentioned, try-
ing the doors, — looking under the bed, etc. — were
due to the subject's fear of homosexuality. The
doors of his soul must be hermetically sealed so that
the terrible enemy should find no entry.

The subject also displayed a number of other
symptomatic acts which richly symbolized his inver-
sion. He turned around certain objects from the
left to the right. He felt more satisfied after doing

129

130 Bi-Sexual Love

so. Why did he do it? Because in consciousness
the right side always stands for what is permitted,
while the left symbolizes the forbidden. Some things
he turned around and upside down to see whether
they would keep their balance. If they tumbled it
filled him with uneasiness, if they stood up, he felt
satisfied. Occasionally he found a vessel that kept
its balance when turned upside down. But he was
satisfied if it did not break.

His phantasy played with the possibility of turn-
ing sexuality upside down. If the change involved no
mishap it carried to him the meaning: even if you are
homosexual, you need not lose your balance, you
can keep up and stand on your feet. After such
a symbolic act he experienced promptly erection and
ran to his wife who only disappointed him because
she did not gratify him enough. These men have a
strong yearning for great heterosexual passion
which shall make them forget their homosexuality.
Usually imagination comes to their aid and they find
women who give them so much spiritually, that they
overlook the absence of physical attractiveness.
They sublimate their homosexuality, heighten the
meaning of sexuality by endowing it with spiritual
erotism, and by means of spiritual ecstacy they make
up for the lack of physical lure.

If this transposition does not take place, if the
flame blazes only upon the physical sphere, a perma-
nent love hunger becomes established known as

Satyriasis and Nymphomania 131

satyriasis. This condition must be differentiated
from priapism which is caused solely by organic con-
ditions and consists of a more or less continuous
state of erection.

Priapism is often brought about by diseases of
the corpora cavernosa, by diabetes and diseases of
the spinal cord, and is a condition very unpleasant
to the sufferer. Here the instinct is not brought
into play, the excited organ requires nothing, — it
is merely unwell. The psychic impulse is entirely
lacking. The subjects feel their condition as some-
thing painfully unpleasant, they cohabit merely to
get rid of the troublesome erection. On the other
hand, the victim of satyriasis is continually impelled
to seek gratification and it often happens that he
is unable to carry on intercourse because erection
fails him. The impulse is psychic rather than phys-
ical. Satyriasis is an attempt to exhaust a psychic
impulse through the physical channel. A transfer-
ence of priapism into the psychical sphere, that is,
the establishment of a disposition along this path
on the basis of a priapistic excitation, is something
I have not encountered.

Satyriasis may be produced in a number of ways.
We have seen already that persons with sadistic
fancies, necrophiliac tendencies and with all sorts
of infantile misophilias may be addicted to mastur-
bation. In all these cases, if onanism is given up, a
condition develops resembling satyriasis. What

132 Bi-Sexual Love

these persons seek is a transference of their libido
upon the normal path. At the same time my ob-
servations enable me to declare that the various con-
ditions mentioned are overshadowed by the signifi-
cance of latent homosexuality. The most important
as well as the most powerful driving force is homo-
sexuality. But I also know of a homosexual in
whom the latent heterosexuality has broken forth as
a satyriasis directed along homosexual channels.

We shall now turn our attention to a case which
illustrates many of these points :

Mr. Alfred V., clerk, 26 years of age, complains
of a long array of nervous symptoms. In the first
place there is his inability to attend to his work. He
is without employment, because he is unable to hold
on to any place. He cannot concentrate his thoughts
as his mind turns all the time to women.

In the morning, as soon as he wakes up, his first
thought is: I could enjoy a woman now! He thinks
this over and finds that, after all, it is too early in
the day. He goes to the restaurant and there looks
over the morning papers. It is almost too much
for him to do even that. Usually he only glances
over the news of the day and then turns to the want
ads, particularly those marriage offers and "per-
sonals" with more or less pointed allusions. Sev-
eral hours pass that way and meanwhile he looks
at the women passing by the window. Then he takes

Satyriasis and Nymphomania 133

a walk and tries to talk to the girls he meets and to
strike up acquaintance with them. If he finds that
they are after money he breaks up his talk with
them. He would rather take a real prostitute than
pay a half -prostitute. Occasionally he finds a girl
who meets his wishes. Then he goes with her to a
hotel, although it is still forenoon. For a short time
after that he is more quiet and he even feels that he
could work an hour or two. But soon his restless-
ness seizes him again which is always at first a purely
psychic urge. It is not erections that trouble him,
but craving and unrest. He attains erection only
when he is with the puella. His potentia varies.
Sometimes he is through very rapidly, sometimes he
requires a half hour before he accomplishes erection
and orgasm. Again he may indulge in coitus several
times in succession, although he feels quieted down
after the first.

This condition he naturally describes as painful
and unpleasant. He tries to interest himself in art
and science, as other men do ; he would also like to
carry on intellectual conversations. But he can only
think of "obscenities" to talk about. The more
foolish and cynical the better he likes them. He
feels impelled to use the grossest expressions, espe-
cially before prostitutes and doing so brings him
great pleasure.

He also has fits of anger during which he is al-
most beside himself. If something is not to his liking

134 BirSeoeual Love

it makes him raving mad. At such times he is likely
to break out with violence, for instance, destroy a
chair, or hurl things through the window regardless
of the danger of striking some passer-by, and he
may say th2 most awful things to his landlady. He
has had many quarrels and violent scenes have been
caused on account of his uncontrollable temper.

For some months he kept a fairly good job but
had to quit because he talked back to his office chief,
using bad language. It always made him mad to
have worked piled up on him. Work is a red rag
to him. He found on his desk twenty letters which
had to be done. Instead of settling down to work
he began swearing. What did the folks think any-
way? How did they expect one man to do it all?
The very impertinence ! etc. After several hours of
fuming that way he fell to his work. Then every-
thing was all right and he got through fast enough
for he always finished his work before all others in
the office.

He wondered that he was not dismissed from that
office long before. His chief had the patience of
an angel. Finally even that man's patience was
exhausted and he was discharged. After that he
could find no permanent employment. He kept a
job a few days at a time; then the chip on his
shoulder would cause him to be discharged.

He related his sexual life in great detail ; of par-
ticular importance is his statement that he never

Satyriasis and Nymphomania 135

had anything to do with homosexuals; though he
well knew there are homosexuals. Such folks were
"beasts" who inspired him only with disgust. . . .

We allow here Alfred to speak for himself. In
the account of his life there are a number of observa-
tions which are characteristic of the whole man:

"I remember nothing of my early childhood.
What happened during that time I cannot recollect ;
my earliest memories date from the time when I was
already in school. I only know that both parents
were nervous. I lost one brother early, I know
nothing of the circumstances. There were a number
of insanities in our family, especially on father's
side.

"My sexual feelings asserted themselves at a very
early age. I remember that when I was seven years
old I played with myself before father, without any
feeling of shame, because I did not know that it was
wrong. Father scolded me and forbade me doing
this. But his threats only had the effect of forcing
me to continue under cover what I tried to do openly
before him. I believe that my power of concentra-
tion and my ability to work were impaired already
at that time. From playing I merged quickly into
systematic masturbation, a habit in which I indulged
excessively. At ten years of age we had at school
a regular ring of masturbators and we carried on all
sorts of things jointly. Nor did we limit ourselves
to manual handling. . . .

136 Bi-Sexual Love

"At about that time I had terrible nightmares. I
saw wild animals, was overcome or bitten by them,
thieves wanted to kidnap me, and in my dreams I
often saw my father coming after me with a great
long stick. These nightly dreams tortured me con-
siderably, every night I was feverish and bathed in
sweat.

"In the morning I had an 'all gone* feeling. I
gazed blankly before me at school always holding
my hand on the penis, — in fact, I often masturbated
during class. I became less and less able to concen-
trate on the work or to carry on my school tasks.
In various ways I attempted first to keep up with
the work and then I tried all sorts of makeshifts to
avoid my school duties. As early as at that age it
was characteristic of me that what interested me I
had no difficulty in doing. I learned easily but only
subjects which I was not taught in school. Thus,
for instance, as a boy I became interested in
mineralogy, astronomy and botany, and I acquired
quite a fund of information on these topics. I
should have never learned a hundredth part of what
I knew about the subjects if they had been drilled
into me at school. . . . Everything that was a duty
seemed unbearable to me. Work was a hard duty
and always unpleasant. Therefore I got along
rather poorly in school. I reached the status of a
one-yearling (the privilege to do but one year mili-
tary duty) only with the aid of home coaching and

Satyriasis and Nymphomania 137

by the use of influence. And I attained that privi-
lege only at the last moment, during my twentieth
year, when I faced the danger of having to serve
three years. In a few weeks I prepared and
crammed, so as to pass my examinations because I
knew that, unless I did, I would be in trouble. I
always went to extremes that way, the midway never
appealed to me. I would pour over my astronomical
books for five hours at a stretch or devote myself
uninterruptedly to my plants and my collection of
stones, but if I spent a half hour upon my school
lessons it made me mad and in my fury I tore the
note book.

"My memory for past events is poor. But some
incidents, here and there, I recall very vividly. For
instance, I remember nothing of a journey through
Thuringen which I made with my uncle when I was
ten years of age. I was like in a trance during that
journey. I made that same journey a second
time and then I recalled of one spot that I had
already been there. There was a stone there
where I had tripped and fallen during the first
journey.

"As a boy I was often punished for my laziness
and I was even strapped for my obstinacy. I
thought I was treated unjustly for I considered my
lack of concentration as something I could not help.
I was always restless, perennially moody, sometimes
very joyous and again very depressed.

138 BirSexual Love

"Masturbation I carried on excessively. I mas-
turbated daily — seldom a day passed, — sometimes
several times daily, up to the 21st year, when I first
had intercourse. Then I decided to give up onanism.
At first I had only normal intercourse and felt great
satisfaction. But I had to do it very often or my
nerves would be all to pieces. During my military
service I felt excellently well. I endured easily all
sorts of physical exertion and I was very proud of
my uniform. As I am very tall and well built I at-
tracted attention in my uniform and the girls looked
at me and this made me very proud. But I continued
masturbating at the time and avoided intercourse.
During the service I was often nervous when I had
to carry out an order or if I was kept at one station
for any length of time. I pressed myself forward
wherever I could, and finally a horse kicked me and
I used that accident as a chance to be freed of the
service and received for some time the accident pay
granted under the circumstances.

"If I am able to get the best of some one, espe-
cially of some one in authority, it pleases me beyond
measure.

"After the military service I took a position. As
I had intercourse daily with women I was in good
condition to keep up my work. But I could not
endure to have two • tasks piled up on me at the
same time. I could do only one thing at a time. I
was not easy to get along with and had to change

Satyriasis arid Nymphomania 139

positions because I quarreled with my chiefs and
because I always avoided hard work. Then I came
to Vienna and got a place which I kept for some
time. The business interested me, because it dealt
with an article which appealed to me. Here I began
to grow restless and my uneasiness increased when
we removed to Berlin. Normal intercourse no longer
satisfied me. I became acquainted with a French
woman who became my sweetheart and with whom I
practiced all sorts of perversities. I became more
and more unstable in my work, often neglecting it
for hours at a stretch. I do not know whether that
was on account of the Berlin air, which did not
agree with me, or because of an accident I met with
on the railway. I gave up my position, that is, my
chief advised me to do so, although it was a re-
sponsible position of great trust, of which I was
very proud, especially as my father had bonded me
heavily. But I grew more and more restless, it
drove me continually to women. I had nothing else
on my mind and I wracked my brain to think of
new, unheard of perversities to try out. I even tried
podicem lambere and for a time this brought me
great satisfaction, but it quieted me only for a few
hours. Then I turned again to Friedrichstrasse
looking for the other girls I kept on string besides
my regular sweetheart. These adventures required
a great deal of money, only a part of which I was
able to earn at the time. It was to me always a

140 Bi-Sexual Love

pleasant thought that father had to pay for my
indulgences.

"My unrest reached its highest point when my
father came to Berlin to see me and I lived in
Charlottenburg. I had a formidable anxiety about
meeting him and so it happened that he was mostly
alone and saw me but seldom. He did prevail upon
me to see a specialist who promptly put me in a
sanitarium. While there I was much more quiet,
but only outwardly. Within me the old struggle
kept on as usual. The physician ordered me to give
up women for a time because I was super-excitable
and indulgence would harm me. I was abstinent for
a few weeks but thoughts troubled me every night
and I was plainly afraid of losing my mind. Then
I turned to my old remedy, onanism. I did this in
spite of the fact that the physician and the spe-
cialist both declared that my condition was due to
excessive masturbation. I was torn between con-
flicting thoughts at the time but noticed that I be-
came more quiet after masturbating. At any rate
after three months of sanitarium treatment I was
still in no condition to work. I am depressed and
life loses its zest the moment I turn to work. After
the first few minutes my mind turns to women and I
must interrupt whatever I am doing and run into the
street. Leaving the sanitarium I returned to Vienna
where the old vicious cycle began once more. I made
the round of physicians and was given any quantity

Satyriasis and Nymphomania 141

of bromides. Neither the medicines nor the various
hydrotherapic courses helped me in any way. Only
if I have intercourse about three times during the
night do I feel a little quieted down in the morning.
Then I am a little more alert and can work for a
short while. But already on the following day,
usually the first thing in the morning, the old trouble
reasserts itself. I am irritable and depressed. After
a coitus which does not gratify me I feel worse than
ever. Then I am tremendously excited and want
right away another woman who might satisfy me
better. Sometimes I long for true love and for the
companionship of a lovely being. I then feel the
terror of loneliness fastening upon me. I literally
pant for air and again rush to the street where
temptations meet me. I feel as if something within
me has taken possession of my soul driving me on
from one adventure to another. Personally I am
inwardly inclined towards everything that is noble;
but something within me compels me to act as a bad
and evil person.

"I believe I am like a man who is the victim of
an insatiable hunger. I have often thought of poor
Prometheus, condemned always to linger in hunger
and thirst. In the same way I feel within me an
unquenchable thirst for love and its pleasures and
I have no other thought than to satisfy this thirst
in some way. I feel like a mechanism destined only
to serve the penis in its demand for gratification.

142 Bi-Sexual Love

"I have often resolved to change. But I am un-
able to carry out any resolution, I cannot undertake
a thing. I can only hunt after women. Ich harm

«rmr coitieren, (I can only ,) every other

activity about me is in a state of suspension. I am
uncertain and vaccilating about everything. Today
I feel a little religious twinge, tomorrow I poke fun
at church and priest. Today I decide to learn
something new or to find a job, tomorrow I think
something else entirely. I want to buy a new hat.
I decide today to go to a certain store. I go to
the place but linger before the windows, unable to
make up my mind to step in. "No," I say to my-
self, "I don't want to buy a hat just yet." And
meanwhile I also think about women for that is a
subject which never leaves my mind for a moment.
I stroll up and down the street watching the hun-
dreds of women before I make up my mind to speak
to one.

"I draw no distinction between old and young,
pretty or plain ones. I weigh the matter over con-
siderably but in the end I pick up the first one that
comes along. If it only quieted me! But it lasts
only an hour, sometimes, at best, a whole day, then
I must rush out again to the street and hunt. Some-
times I cohabit with three women in a day.

"My worst time was when I had gonorrhea (not
yet completely healed). I was forbidden to have
intercourse for a time. But I could not listen to

Satyriasis and Nymphomania 143

the doctor, because I was afraid that I would go
literally to pieces. I kept up intercourse right along
and was inwardly glad to think that so many others
will also have to suffer what I suffered. Then I
felt remorse over my meanness, I felt myself a repro-
bate, a criminal, and resolved that I must change
my ways. I fell into a deep depression and for a
few hours I was free of my usual erotic thoughts.
Then they started again and the same thoughts now
plague me night and day as before." . . .

We have listened to the poor man's terrible con-
fession. His hunt after gratification has that
tragical quality which the poet has so fittingly ex-
pressed: "Und im Genuss verschmacht' ich nach
Begierde." — "And I starved with yearning even
while I tasted." The deep depressions indicate that
this trouble is approaching a crisis. For the de-
pressions occur at closer intervals and satisfying ex-
periences are more rare. That is also the reason why
he seeks professional advice. He feels that this
cannot go on. He cannot and does not want to
endure life under such conditions. He wants to work
like other men and to be capable of turning his mind
to other matters than sexual.

Two things stand out in the patient's account.
First, his complete amnesia regarding his first jour-
ney through Thuringen, as pointed out by himself —
except for the slight accident of tripping — and

14>4 Bi-Sexual Love

next, the fact that his condition became so much
more serious during his stay in Berlin, when he was
already on the way to get well. He had given up
masturbation of his own initiative, substituting for
it intercourse with women, he was working, he held a
responsible position, and kept up his work, accord-
ing to the statement of his superiors in office, in
spite of disturbances . . . then suddenly his condi-
tion made a turn for the worse. Some strong im-
pression or unusual experience in Berlin must have
brought on this sudden change. s

It is noteworthy that the subject denies having
ever carried on any homosexual act. He claims such
men only fill him with extreme disgust. The child-
hood experiences, of course, do not count. All chil-
dren did the same things; one would conclude that
all boys were homosexual. As a matter of fact they
are married and happy, most of them heads of happy
families. "I have a frightful passion," he says, "ex-
clusively for women. Men do not exist for me."

At night he dreams :

I see a turbulent ocean before me. The waves are
in continuous agitation. I think to myself: it were a
pity if the waves ceased their agitation. A ship
passes by, and the boat carries everything that I
love. I believe my mother is also upon that ship.
There is an orchestra playing on board: "Oh, how
could I possibly leave youl" I awake feeling sad and
depressed.

Satyriasis and Nymphomania 145

Such a dream is a resistance dream and indicates
that the subject does not want to get well. His
soul is an ocean, continuously in a state of agitation.
"I think it a pity that the waves should cease,"
means: I do not want to become quiet at all! The
boat symbolizes the illness, the neurosis. His neu-
rosis covers everything he loves, including his
mother; and should he give up all that? Impossi-
ble! He cannot renounce his infantile sexuality.
He wants to remain a child and be ill.

The analysis is carried out under very great re-
sistance but satisfactory progress is made. I want
to outline the results limiting myself to the most
important points.

His sexual life comes more and more to light. It
appears that in his free account he covered under
silence a important form of pleasurable gratifica-
tion because he was ashamed of it. He indulges in
a very curious form of infantile sexuality. The
habit must be widespread but in this form I have met
it only twice.

Every two weeks he does as follows : he lies down
in bed dressed in his underclothes and defecates.
Then he lies in his stools for several hours. After
that he takes great pains to remove every trace.
He washes the drawers and the shirt or he burns
them up. At the baths, where he is always very
excited sexually he does the same thing. He does
that there more readily because the means are at

146 Bi-Sewual Love

hand for cleaning himself afterwards. He usually
takes along a package of clean linen. At the public
baths every cabin has a couch. He lies down and
allows his bowels to move. There he lies feeling very
satisfied and masturbates or has a spontaneous
ejaculation. Then he bathes to clean himself and
the package of soiled linen he throws into a river
or anywhere where it disappears quickly.

In these scenes he reproduces the infant in swad-
dling clothes. He even presses the covers tightly
around him so that he cannot move, to give himself
the illusion of being tied down. He repeats the
infantile scenes of cleaning by the mother, during
which in his fancy he plays the double role of mother
and child.

He struggles with greatest anxiety against this
remarkable paraphila but always submits to it in
the end. The longest interval up to the time of the
psychoanalysis was four weeks. After that "orgy
of filth," — as he calls it — he feels depressed and is
ashamed of himself. He has not mentioned this to a
living soul and even the physician at the sanitarium
knew nothing about it. He went through this act
several times not at the sanitarium, but in his room
because the baths were not private. When discussing
sexual infantilism we shall learn of several similar
cases. His attitude towards his mother is very
changeable but not so emotionally tense as his rela-
tions with his father. He carries on a quiet and

Satyriasis and Nymphomania 147

occasionally affectionate exchange of letters with
his mother, but with his father, never. He is to a
certain extent fond of his mother. As he tried mas-
turbation in front of his father as a child so now
he keeps nothing of his sexual life secret before me.
He relates frankly everything. As a child he loved
his mother very much and often wished to be with
her. His mother is now an old woman, partially
paralysed. Nevertheless he noticed during his last
visit home that she is still a pretty woman and re-
peatedly felt impelled to approach her. . . . At
such times he treats her very roughly and scorn-
fully, and is inclined to make fun of her and her age.
He has had repeatedly affairs with old women. At
his last lodging place there was an elderly woman,
whose face was badly wrinkled, with whom he be-
came intimate but after a short time he sought a
quarrel with her and moved out. That is the way
he behaves with everybody. He quarrels over some
trifle, becomes very excited and makes a terrible
scene. Then he is through with that person for
good.

We shall see that this is his way of protecting
himself against temptation. He quarrels only with
persons with whom he has pleasant relations and
who play some role in his sexual fancies. That is
also how he parts from his mother, for he usually
leaves her after a bitter quarrel. This is also why
his parents let him dwell among strangers, although

148 Bi-Sexual Love

they think a great deal of him. His letters are suffi-
ciently irritating but easier to endure than the
scenes he creates when at home.

His attitude towards his father is worse. He is
easily moved to anger when speaking of him. He
makes copious use of vile terms when referring to
him. Such expressions as "the old rascal," the
"miserable thief," are customary with him when
speaking of his father. He knows no reason why he
should feel so bitter towards his father. That is,
he gives a thousand reasons but all trivial and hardly
relevant. The father brought him up badly; the
father is responsible for his condition ; the father is
wealthy, nevertheless complains always that he has
nothing; the father lives only for his mother and
cares nothing for hvm. He wants to make himself
independent and wants to get money from his father
for that purpose. The very thought that his father
may deny him the money makes him angry : "I shall
go to him and kill him and shoot myself." Such
murder fancies are not infrequent about his father.

How close the neurotic is to the criminal ! Against
his father he raises all sorts of complaints, equally
unreasonable. One day he called on me to say that,
having passed a sleepless night he has figured out at
last the reason for his illness: the father has mur-
dered his brother! The brother was incurably ill
and a burden to his father. He knew it well and had
decided to go home and confront his father with

Satyriasis and Nymphomania 149

the truth, then demand his share of the inheritance.
Even as a boy it was clear to him that the father
had deliberately put his brother out of the way.
The father always felt uncomfortable when the talk
turned to the boy and always tried to avoid the
subject.

He judges his father according to his own inner
self. He carries within himself the soul of a mur-
derer, as the pathologic strength of his instinctive
cravings already indicates. The suspicion directed
against his father is determined psychically by the
fact that during his own youth he wished his
brother's death because he did not want to have any
competitor for household favors and he knew well
that the fortune would have to de divided between
them. But he was not the kind of man who would
consent to dividing anything. He wanted every-
thing for himself exclusively. He wanted his brother
out of the way and had actually indulged in vari-
ous fanciful dreams how to go about it. Now he
shifted his fancies over to his father, while for him-
self he conjured up an attitude of sympathy and
regret whenever his brother was mentioned. He is
most unhappy because he has no brother, his father
has robbed him of what was most precious in his
life. Had his brother lived he would not be ill, only
the realization of his father's deed is what brought
him to such a state. The father passes for a promi-
nent person and enjoys a high position in his com-

150 Bi-Sexual Love

munity, he has been mayor of the town, but should
he start proceedings against him, the father would
land in jail. He is filled with jealousy because his
father has done so well; his own incapacity he ex-
plains away chiefly on the score of his illness.

It takes a long time for the original love of the
father to come to the surface, back of this thick
cover of hatred and jealousy. But the masking layer
melts, surely though slowly, and meanwhile explana-
tions for which the subject is as yet unprepared
would do more harm than good. The art of analysis
consists in showing up only so much as reveals
itself from time to time. Our subject is not yet
prepared to see that he is in love with his father.
Nevertheless he begins to talk about his father's
preeminence and other favorable sides, the man's
knowledge, his great library, etc.

Gradually the father's picture looms up in terms
more and more favorable. The subject relates pleas-
ant episodes from youth, when he botanized along
with his father who introduced him to the science;
he withdraws his murder notion, admitting at last
that it was only part of his over-heated fancy. At
this stage when he takes me for the locum tenens
of his father, he assumes an aggressive attitude
towards me and uses an expression which amounts
to an insult. I had already made clear to him that
he sees his father in me. Now he undertakes to treat
me as he would his father. At once I break up the

Satyriasis and Nymphomania 151

analysis. Three days later he returns remorsefully
and begs forgiveness. It will not happen again, I
must not leave him in the lurch, he cannot stand this
condition any longer, and I must save him. That
was the only conflict I ever had with him ; after that
he behaved well and to this day he shows himself
appreciative and filled with gratitude. He was ready
to recognize how strongly his homosexuality deter-
mined his attitude towards his superiors, towards
his father, as well as towards me. He now sees it
clearly. He admits he practically fell in love with
his last chief and that is why he had to quit the
place. He relates a dream which he had kept to
himself till then, and which shows his homosexual
attitude towards me, and admits that during child-
hood he had idealized his father and loved him
deeply.

We learn more than that. We find out what
brought on his turn for the worse at Berlin. At
his lodging house there was a young boy 14 years
of age, very attractive, whom he coached evenings.
He began to play with that boy. He masturbated
him and was masturbated by the boy in turn. The
relationship kept up for about three months. These
were the first three months of his stay in Berlin.
Then he felt remorse, sought a quarrel with the land-
lady and moved out. From that moment began his
insatiable craving for women. It was his last homo-
sexual period. He had led astray other boys before

152 Bi-Sexwal Love

that one and always gladly introduced them to the
habit. A court case in which the defendant was
sentenced for a similar offence decided him to give
up the homosexual practices. He never repeated
them after that Berlin episode.

His satyriasis developed on account of the re-
pression of his homosexual tendencies. Back of his
morbid passion for woman stood his ungratified
longing for man.

The subject now sees clearly that he carried on
with the boy the act which he expected of his father.
His hatred of the father is reversed love. In the
chapter devoted to sadism we will describe more
fully this relationship between father and son.

Our subject expected his father to do with him
what he did with the boy. It shows how little
credence we should lend a patient's first statements.
Presently numerous similar episodes come to the
forefront and soon we learn that his greatest desire
at one time was to procure a pretty boy for himself
and that boys roused him more than girls. He seeks
the company of women to forget all about his in-
clination towards boys and hopes to overcome his
homosexual tendencies through excessive hetero-
sexual experiences. His craving for women his
obsessive thinking about them, serves only as a means
to prevent his mind from reverting to the other sex.
Compulsory thoughts often serve the purpose of
preventing other thoughts from intruding. This is

Satyriasis and Nymphomania 153

the law of resistance which plays such a tremendous
role in the mental life of neurotics. In the course
of treatment he transfers upon me all his passion
— as was to be expected. He has some dreams,—
which he relates with great difficulty, — during which
he sees me naked and handles my penis or even car-
ries out fellatio. He now recalls passionately watch-
ing his father, also how happy he was to go bathing
with him, and how he liked to hide in order to see
his father's phallus. The dissolution of this trans-
ference and reference back to his father he does not
like at first, but it becomes more and more pro-
nounced as we proceed. He is now abstinent for a
week at a stretch and no longer chases after women
although I gave him no particular advice on this
point. The consciously acknowledged homosexual
leaning has no need for this cover. As leaning
comes to surface openly it is openly overcome. He
again experiences anxieties. His landlady tells that
he is heard tossing and groaning and even crying
aut in his sleep. He is now sentimental and soft,
becoming greatly changed in character, to his ad-
vantage. Again he goes to the theatre and reads
books, — things he had not done for years. His
letters to his father are more quiet in tone and
sympathetic. He becomes economical and spends
less than his father sends him.

Then something happens which promises to mark
a new epoch m his life. It is a typical experience

154 BirSexual Love

of these men during treatment. As the infantile
ties are loosened in the course of the analysis they
fall in love. 1

Our subject is in a state of highest preparedness
towards love. His homosexuality, which had been
completely repressed — he no longer took any interest
in boys — was again manifest. He now played his
trump card. He fell in love with a girl who was to
replace for him all other women as well as all thought
of man. This happened in so remarkable and typi-
cal a manner that it is worth while to report fully
the occurrence.

He was still in the habit of accosting girls on
the street, even if for no other object than sheer
amusement. One evening he came across a demure
little girl who looked rather like a young boy, boldly
spoke to her and fell deeply in love with her on the
spot. In three days he declared himself her beau
and six days later they became engaged. He thought
of nothing else but his sweetheart. As if bent on
revenging himself on me and on his father he spoke
of nothing else but his love and his new found happi-
ness. The satyriasis was replaced by a psychic in-
toxication even more powerful. He picked up a
girl belonging to an ordinary family to punish his
parents. He chose that girl although she was no
longer virgo intacta (because this did not interest

1 (Cf. Angstzustaende, p. 417. An English translation of this
work is now in course of preparation and will appear shortly.)

Satyriasis amd Nymphomania 155

him). He told that to his parents and it was, he
felt, the strongest revenge and punishment he could
bring upon them. They thought a great deal of
their social position ; and now, their son was marry-
ing the daughter of a motorman, a girl without any
education and who served as clerk in some store.
And he threatened his parents that he would take his
life unless he could marry the girl. He would marry
her without their consent. His love was so great, —
such a love never had its equal in the world! The
very thought that his father might try to prevent
the marriage made him raving mad and he talked of
violence and murder.

I advised the father to disarm the son by placing
no opposition in his path. He should make but one
condition: the son must support himself and his
wife. Only a man capable of maintaining a wife
has the right to marry. I took the same attitude
explaining to the young man that he must make
himself independent of his father through his own
labor. He perceived plainly that the idea of main-
taining himself through his own labor did not appeal
to him. His greatest pleasure was the thought that
his father had to pay every time he went out with
a woman and that he was squandering his father's
money.

At this time he confesses to me that he was about
to get married once before. It was in Berlin, shortly
after the homosexual relations with the young boy.

156 Bi-Sexual Love

He became acquainted with a girl who kept up inter-
course with him. This girl he wanted to marry and
his father went through the same trial with him.
He could not think of a greater revenge. Such sub-
jects show this trait again and again. It is not the
only case of the kind that I have met. The occur-
rence is common and every experienced nerve
specialist is called in consultation over similar prob-
lems several times in the course of a year. That
girl was the Frenchwoman who introduced him to all
forms of paraphiliac practices. The father, nat-
urally indignant, threatened to disinherit the son.
That was precisely what our patient was looking for.
He was afraid only of a soft-hearted father and he
managed always to rouse his anger as a sort of
protective screen between himself and his father.
The patient also felt that his father scorned him.
During the Berlin episode he clung to his French-
woman, did not rest until his father met her, wanted
always to keep in her company and was afraid of
being alone with his father.

At this point the subject's journey to Thuringen
with his father came up through numerous associa-
tions. He accompanied on that journey not his
uncle, but his father, and he now recalls that during
the trip he frequently occupied one bed with his
father, and that it made him happy to think that
his father took him along instead of his mother.

It will be recalled that previously he remembered

Satyriasis and Nymphomania 157

only the incident of slipping on a stone. That is
really a "Deckerrinerung." The fall covers other
incidents. It stands for a fall into sin. I must
point out that the subject also links the return of
the trouble and its aggravation to an alleged fall.
The accident happened in a merry go round. He
fell unconscious but after a short time came fully
to himself and returned to the sport. The accident
could hardly have been a serious one. At any rate
the riddle of a fall belonged to the fancies with which
he had beclouded his journey to Thuringen. The
fiction established itself in his mind through his
occupying one bed with his father in the course of
that journey and his substituting the father for the
mother. His dreamy mind conceived the companion
as a woman, as the mother, and added the fiction
of a fall into sin, symbolically represented by the
trivial incident of an actual fall.

He now finds himself in a new homosexual danger.
I see him daily and he tries by various tricks to
induce me to give him a physical examination and
to show me his penis. He thinks he has again
gonorrhea, perhaps he has phthiriasis, I ought to
examine him, it would be foolish for him to go to an-
other physician for that. I explain these symptoms
and the man confesses that he has indulged also
openly in fancies in which I played a role. And now
he takes revenge by telling me about his bride and
dwelling on her tenderness for hours. He has no

158 Bi-Sexual Love

other theme for talk. He must always have her
near him to feel quiet. She must not leave him for
a moment. Day and night he wants to hold her
hand . . . thus he insures himself against homo-
sexuality.

Finally I tell him I shall give up the psycho-
analysis if there is nothing else to come up. Then,
lo ! his talk turns to other matters. He knows now
that his engagement is a defence measure against
his homosexuality and his filthy onanistic acts. But
he also sees that in his bride he has found a sur-
rogate for his mother. He surrounds her with
tenderness like a man who truly loves, and pres-
ently his psychic intoxication turns into a deep and
true aifection. He still has serious quarrels with
his bride. He still storms against his father and
against all authority. He is an anarchist at war
with all authority and assumes an obstinate attitude
towards everybody. But his father, apprised by me
of the true situation, keeps his temper and thus dis-
arms his son. Thus the engagement no longer
serves the object of worrying the parents. His
parents apparently let him have his own way, in-
sisting only that he should go to work. I doubt
his ability to get to work and express to him my
sympathy. He wants to show me that he can work.
At every opportunity I sympathize with his bride, a
quiet, brave little woman. He will surely abandon

Satyriasis and Nymphomania 159

her. He cannot keep true. Not so! he declares.
He is going to show me that he can be true.

In a few weeks he finds a position and does his
work so carefully and diligently that his condition
is greatly improved. Then he marries and in every
sense of the word becomes a new man.

But there was a great deal more to do. His
paranoiac notions of grandeur, his feeling that he
could do anything which others may not, his
obstinacy and his rebellion against all authority
were gradually replaced by social tendencies. He
became modest and agreeable. . . .

His complete recovery, he learned early, depended
on his keeping away from his parents. A short stay
in the old home roused all the old antagonisms and
he resolved to stay away so as to keep on friendly
terms with his parents.

At first all his affection was centered on his
bride and he did not wait for the marriage cere-
mony. . . . He attained unbelievable accomplish-
ments. . . . But this did not continue for long and
soon he quieted down and had intercourse with his
wife at regular intervals. . . . Pregnancy and child-
birth made it necessary for him to keep away from
her for a time and he did so easily enough, without
being untrue to her.

I do not know how long this improvement will
last. He has kept his place for the past three years
with dignity and honor, and is today a quiet, brave

160 Bi-Sexual Love

man who shudders when he thinks of his past. His
parents have reconciled themselves to his marriage
and the birth of two grandchildren has ratified in
their eyes the inevitable fact.

The character of satyriasis is richly illustrated
by this case. We see also why the Berlin air did
not agree with the subject. There he was in danger
of becoming overtly homosexual. In one Berlin
office where he worked there was a homosexual who
wanted to introduce him to his circle. He took a
sudden liking for his chief of whom he grew daily
more fond. The other men in the office made him
jealous and he resorted to quarreling, using vile talk.
Finally he broke with his chief as a defence against
the pent-up feelings within himself.

It is interesting to note that during his relations
with the young boy he identified himself with his
father. He carried out the act of seduction which
he vainly expected to be acted out by his father.
His identification with the father went so far that
he felt himself aged, tired, played out and he thought
he might not live long. During his coprophiliac acts
he played the role of a suckling.

It is interesting to observe what role he assumes
now while in love with his wife. A few remarks on
that point may not be out of place here:

During the first stage of his infatuation the sub-
ject identified himself with his mother, while the
young woman stood for a boy, mostly himself. He

Satyriasis and Nymphomania 161

acted out the love scenes between mother and son
and he was surprised to find himself capable of such
motherly feelings. He emphasized his strong
femininity. He had, he thought, womanly hips, scant
beard growth, gynecomasty (full breasts). Or-
ganically he was of that bisexual type which careful
examination of the neurotic never fails to disclose.
He was also attentive, gallant, dainty and man-
nerly. Sometimes the bride was the mother and he
played the role of the child. He snuggled up in her
arms saying: "I should like to crawl in and lie like
a child in its mother's bosom ! That would be bliss."
During coitus he preferred succubus and once there
occurred a strange incident. A fancy seemed to
dawn on him that he was having intercourse with
his mother. This was not a phantasy that I had
in any way suggested. I let the subject relate
everything that comes to his mind without influenc-
ing him in one direction or another.

As he improved the identification with his mother
disappeared. He made up with his parents, ex-
changed friendly letters with his father, and felt he
was making satisfactory progress. For the first
time in his life he was himself.

He became aware of his own personality. Now
he loved his wife as a husband, and felt that he was
a father who had a mother of his own.

That may seem self-evident and an irrelevant re-
mark. But the whole task which I aimed to achieve

162 Bi-Sexual Love

was to break up his identification with his parents,
destroy his projection upon the old home. Pre-
viously the leading motive in all his conduct was the
thought : what will my parents say? The knowledge
that his father would be troubled made him happy.
He wanted to punish the man whom he held responsi-
ble for his sufferings on account of his lack of proper
responsiveness and to keep the father always in
trouble. Now he abandoned his infantilism. - He
was a child no longer, he was a man. Overcoming
all disguises and masks he came to himself.

His homosexuality persisted as formerly. But
he saw this clearly before his eyes and recognized it
openly in his relations with his superiors, his friends
and his psychoanalytic adviser. He could meet the
issue and overcome it. Perhaps he shifted a part of
it over to his son. One thing is certain : he is through
with the homosexual longing and so completely that
it no longer troubles him. He is alert and active.
Such result would not be attained without the art of
analysis and without the physician's educational
skill. This man, in the absence of analysis, would
have probably ended his misery in suicide.

I must also point out that his genuine affection
for his wife developed out of an impulsive infatua-
tion. He met the woman, spoke to her, and fell in
love with her at once. Yet the marriage is happier
as time passes. Trifling storms do occur — where
do they not — but they blow lightly over and his

Satyriasis and Nymphomania 163

home life is one of quiet happiness. The dream
about his great historic mission is gone. He who
had once the ambition to become a Napoleon or a
Herostratos, a Satan or a Don Juan, a bomb-
thrower, is now a reliable, efficient and satisfied book-
keeper ; he now sits at his desk in the office dutifully
adding long columns of figures, brings home little
presents for his wife and children, and if his old
folks send him a sum of money he is pleasantly sur-
prised and puts it in the bank for his little daughter.
This case illustrates also the relations of homo-
sexuality to the family and to the problem of incest.
More about that later. . . .

Nymphomania shows the same homosexual basis
as satyriasis. In the study of Sexual Frigidity in
Women 1 we shall have occasion to point out types
of women who are undoubtedly nymphomaniac in
character, Messalinas. These women are usually
anesthetic, a condition in itself of considerable
significance and one which is often seen also in ordi-
nary prostitutes. They have a hunger for man
similar to Don Juan's longing for woman. It is
characteristic of them, too, that they never find
satisfaction. These persons in perpetual quest,
Ahasuerus, the Flying Dutchman, Faust and Don
Juan, who are condemned to wander and search and

1 English translation by James S. Van Teslaar.

164 Bi-Sexual Love

who never find rest, portray the libido which does
not find its proper sexual goal. 1

There are also among women endless seekers con-
tinually dreaming of man, — some man who shall com-
pletely and lastingly gratify them. The conditions
are even more complex in women than in men. For
the present I want to report briefly one case, point-
ing out merely what may serve as an illustration of
our present theme. We shall take up the whole sub-
ject more fully in connection with our discussion of
dyspareunia.

A woman, strikingly beautiful, — we shall call her
Adele — comes to me with a most unusual complaint.
She is married to an excellent man with whom she
had fallen in love and she still loves him. She has
no inclination whatever to remain true to him. She
lacks completely any resistance to temptation. She
is easily the victim of any man who comes near her.
She is a woman who does not know how to say "no."
Her husband who has no inkling of her doings wor-
ships her. Sometimes she is conscience stricken, as

1 Faust finds this temporarily in his Graetchen. But it is
only an episode and presently he is again restlessly searching
until he finds Helena, the most beautiful of all women. The
Flying Dutchman is released by a woman who remains true to
the last in her love of him. That is the projection of a sub-
jective feeling upon the woman. He wishes he could find a
woman for whom he would feel a love so dear that it would
relieve him. In Ahasuerus the same problem is glossed over
with religious terms as the problem seen in the Don Juan
story as the requital of the all-highest father. All four must be
faithless, they cannot remain true to one woman.

Satyriasis and Nymphomania 165

now, and wishes to find something that would quiet
her so that she would not have to think from morn-
ing till night only of sexual matters. But, what I
shall find unbelievable, she adds, is that she remains
cold during a man's embrace and must always follow
it up with onanism. Only cunnilingus produces an
adequate orgasm in her. She thinks that if a man
satisfied her regularly in that way perhaps she could
remain true to him.

From her life history I quote the following data.
Already as a child Adele had gathered certain ex-
periences on the subject of sex. She was about
eight years of age when her brother began to carry
out coitus with her. She was very sensual even at
that time and claims that she experienced great
pleasure in the act. The brother was two years
older. All the children in the apartment building
where they lived were introduced early to sexual
acts. Often there took place regular orgies. She
was loaned by her brother to other boys when he
received their sisters in exchange. She remembers
having been used once by four boys in succession.
These doings went on for over a year. Then another
girl's mother discovered what was going on and
matters came very near being aired in court. There
were scenes and investigations but all the children
lied themselves out of it.

From that time on she masturbated and to this
day she cannot give up the habit. Even as a "flap-

166 Bi-Sexual Love

per" she had no other thought than to attract men.
She was very coquettish and easy going, improved
for a time, becoming very devout as well as retired
in her disposition and even thought of joining a
nunnery and taking the vows of chastity.

But this pious attitude did not last long. Soon
she flirted again and turned to all kinds of erotic
books, the reading of which so excited her that she
masturbated several times during the night. At IT
years of age, a pupil of her father's who was teacher
of piano at the musical high school, took advantage
of her. She was alone with the young man for a few
minutes. He kissed her and she accepted this with-
out resistance. Then he dragged her on top of
himself — there was no couch in that study room —
and she lost her virginity. She did not know how it
happened. It was over in a few minutes. She kept
away from the young man after that, although he
pursued her, and for a few weeks lived in terror,
afraid that she might be pregnant. But fortunately
that was not the case. She soon noticed that all
men were interested in her. Young and old pursued
her. The mother to whom, with tears in her eyes,
she related the incident with the young man and
who kept it from the father (fearing that he would
murder the boy) kept careful watch over her, never
left her alone, always saying to her: "Child, you
must marry soon ! Your blood is too hot."

At 19 years of age she found her man, with whom

Satyriasis and Nymphomania 167

she fell in love so desperately that she became the
laughing stock of the town. During the very first
days of courtship she fell into his arms and offered
no resistance when he tried to possess her com-
pletely. He was so excited that he failed to observe
that she was not a virgin. She enjoyed the experi-
ence but little, although she was tremendously
excited at the time.

From the very beginning she was untrue to him.
She carried on with a friend of his, going even to
that man's house. She was unhappy and wanted to
do away with herself. But she soon got over that
and again began flirting.

After the marriage ceremony — three days later —
she recalled having heard that Dr. X., an attractive
young single man, was a great Don Juan. She
decided to look him up at once and seduce him. She
complained to him of a red spot upon her privates,
claiming it troubled her. Was that not a sign of
some illness? In short, she attained her purpose,
was his sweetheart for a time, and learned then of
cunnilingus for the first time. That she regarded as
the highest achievement in the art of love. Another
man required of her the anal form of copulation.
All such things amused her, although she never ex-
perienced the orgasm as satisfactorily as during
masturbation.

Before long she felt painful remorse. She had
the best of men for a husband. She tortured herself

168 Bi-Sexual Love

with the most severe reproaches, daily saying to
herself: "This must be the last time; I must not
do it again." But the very next day she felt im-
pelled .again to go into the street or to telephone
to one of the many men who were at her disposal.
It is interesting to note that on her list of lovers
there were physicians, lawyers, army officers, clerks,
nobles and commoners. She never took payment and
never accepted presents. That would put her in a
class with the prostitutes. She also tried coachmen
and chauffeurs, but her disgust afterwards was so
great that she gave this up, although she always
felt the temptation.

She acquired a gonorrheal infection and this com-
pelled her to claim "female trouble" as an excuse to
keep her husband away from her for a time. She
was so provoked with the man who had infected her
that she wanted to revenge herself on all men and
in her anger thought of transferring the infection
to every man in her circle. She did not carry out
this plan because the gynecologist who treated her
forbade all sexual congress. Nevertheless twice she
could not control herself and she infected two
men. . . .

She wanted me to hypnotize her. There was no
other thought in her mind than men and again men !
Her mind revolved continually around sexual scenes ;
she has even thought of going for a time to a house
of prostitution, and, like Agrippina, allow any num-

Satyriasis and Nymphomania 169

ber of men to use her until she shall have had enough.
Perhaps then she would quiet down! If she meets
a stranger that night she dreams of intercourse with
him!

I ask her about the dreams ; whether they lay stress
on some special form of intercourse or portray
merely the normal act.

Hesitatingly she answers: "Always the normal.
Only I am regularly on top. . . . Why is that? I
have often thought of it."

"Did you have such a dream last night?"

''Let me see. Certainly; a foolish dream,
though. . . ."

"Please, let me hear it."

"I am in bed with my brother-in-law. A man of
whom I would not even dream."

"But you did dream of him."

"I cannot understand it. I have never given him
one minute's thought."

"And never anything happened between you?"

"No . . . with him, never. Although he is atten-
tive to me and I know he likes me. I love my sister
too dearly to treat her that way, although my sister
is not faithful either, and things like that don't mat-
ter with her. It seems to be in the family. Still, I
would rather have nothing to do with my brother-
in-law. The dream is nonsense, I have forgotten the
most of it. It was much longer."

Observing that she tries to avoid the dream I

170 Bi-Sexual Love

insist that she should try and recall it as nearly as
possible. "Well, then," she continues her narra-
tive, "the dream was as follows :

"I am m bed with my brother-mflaw. It seems 1
am the man and he the woman. He has no mustache
and lies under me. Suddenly he changes and it is my
sister and I kiss her passionately. 'You see,' she says
to me, 'you should have done this long ago and you
would be welV "

I inquire about her relations to the sister and
learn that she has not been in touch with her for the
past few months and that during this time she has
grown more nervous and her craving for men also
grew worse than ever. "When I am with my sister I
seem to forget men more easily. She is a very
spiritual person and extremely charming. If you
should ever meet her you would fall in love with
her."

When one hears such talk, and one hears it rather
often, the diagnosis is easy: the narrator is in love
with that person and therefore thinks it natural that
everybody should fall in love with the person in
question. 1

1 Once I treated a man who had separated from his wife,
wanted to marry another woman with whom he had fallen
in love and to divorce his wife. In the course of our interviews
during that time this man said repeatedly: "I would not
introduce you to my first wife; you would fall in love with her
if I did; no man can help that." At once I recognized that
the man's neurotic disorder reached back to a suppressed love
for bis wife. In his mind there rumbled continually sounds

Satyriasis and Nymphomania 171

Further inquiries disclose that she was preoccu-
pied with but one thought: her sister. She always
looks upon her sister as the best dressed, most
spirited and most charming person she had ever
known.

Why was the woman no longer on friendly terms
with her sister?

Because, she claims, her sister is egotistical and
cares nothing for her. She was lying ill for a few
weeks and her sister let her lie there and took no
more notice of her than if she were a dog ; she wanted
her sister's company when she went out, she could
not do her shopping alone but she could not get her
sister to go along. So she had to go around with a
woman friend who was a disgusting and vulgar per-
son. She ought to be ashamed to show herself in

which he could not reproduce. He recalled scraps of melodies
which he could not place at all. But once I was able to get
at one such melody. It was a song of which he did not know
the words. ' When the matter was ferreted out it was found
that the words bore distinctly a reference to his first wife.
The vague melodies permitted his mind to dwell on her and
at the same time to cover from his consciousness the fact that
he could not keep her out of his mind. Here is a character-
istic passage from Eichendlorff's poem:

Ich kam von Walde hernieder,
Da stand noch das alte Haus;
Mein Liebchen schaute wieder

Wie einst zum Fenster hinaus —

Sie hat einen andern genommen —
Ich war draussen in Schlacht und Krieg —
Nun ist alles anders gekommen: —
Ich wollt es war wieder Krieg. . . .

These verses represent a summary of his great conflict.

172 BirSexual Love

such company; if she were in her husband's place,
she would not tolerate it. . . . After all, it would
not be so very sinful if she did become intimate with
her brother-in-law; her sister was not true to him
and kept up relations with an army lieutenant but
the poor fool does not see it and thinks the army
officer is his best friend. . . .

She keeps up an incessant flow of talk. She wakes
up thinking of her sister, she thinks of her all day
and she dreams of her every night. I have studied
her dreams over a period of weeks. There is not a
dream in which her sister fails to figure and none
but portrays her erotic attitude towards the sister.

In the course of the analysis her childhood experi-
ences come to light and she recalls that for a long
time she slept in one bed with her sister and they
performed cunnilingus on one another. That was
so long ago, she had forgotten all about it. That
experience discloses her true nature. She is con-
tinually looking for woman; specifically she is look-
ing for one woman, her sister. She wants to forget
her, the traumatic experience with her she wants to
drive out of memory, by covering it with new expe-
riences.

We see that her latent homosexuality drives her
into the arms of every man she meets. We also note
the role of family relations in homosexuality, a sub-
ject which we shall take up specifically later and
illustrate with proper data.

ly

Description of Don Juan Types who are satisfied
with conquest and forego physical possession —
An unlucky Hero, whose love adventures are in-
terfered with by Gastric Derangements — A
would-be Messalina who hesitates on account of
vomiting spells — Influence of Religion on Neu-
rosis.

Ich wiisste kavm noch etwas Anderes geltend zu
machen, das dermassen zerstorrisch der Gesundheit
und Rassenkrdftigkeit, namentlich der Europder
zugesetzt hat als das asketische Ideal; man darf es
ohne Uhertreibung das eigentliche Verhangniss in der
Gestmdheitsgeschichte des ewropdischen Menschen
nermen.

Nietzsche.

IV

I know hardly what other factor could be held so
harmful to the health and racial vigor of European
peoples, as the ascetic ideal; without exaggeration
this must be looked upon as the striking fatality in
the health history of the European.

Nietzsche.

We have spoken thus far of the active Don Juan
and of Messalina types and we have attempted to
prove that homosexuality is responsible. Along the
extreme types we find endless varieties of transitional
types. Nature nowhere confounds us through the
richness of her varieties and combinations so much
as in the manifestations of human sexuality.

The would-be Don Juan and would-be Messalina
are most interesting types. They behave precisely
like the true type. They manifest the same uncon-
trollable and restless craving. But somewhere in
their development the capacity to carry out hetero-
sexual adventures fails them. I am not now speak-
ing of the man who plays Don Juan in his mind's
fancy or of the Messalina who does not truly possess

175

176 Bi-Sexual Love

the courage to try to live up to her instinctive crav-
ings. There are numberless such cases and a bit
of the type lurks in the breast of every person, a
fact we recognize as the polygamic tendency.

The type which I wish to describe approaches the
ascetic. It is plain that the ascetic ideal would
not arise if a strong homosexual tendency did not
depreciate heterosexuality. For every action is the
product of instinct and repression. An overpowerful
instinct may overcome even the strongest inhibitions.
But if a portion of the individual's sexual energy is
anchored homosexually the aggressive sexual acts
are endowed only with a portion of the energy they
require. If the energy is shunted off its proper track
entirely we have the ascetic person; and if the
energy is but partially side-tracked and is insuffi-
cient for the accomplishment of the sexual aim, we
have the would-be Don Juan type.

There are any number of men who daily dream
only of their possible conquests, begin adventures,
and carry them along for a time only to drop the
affairs suddenly . . . because they "get cold feet."
They envy men who are able to pursue their adven-
tures to the end, men fortunate enough actually to
make conquests and they bewail the fate which brings
them so close to the most tempting fruit only to
prove elusive just when the fruit seems ready to fall
into their lap, — and to be gone forever. Better than

The Rudimentary Bon Juan 177

all generalizations may serve the account of an
actual case, like the following:

Mr. Xaver Z., would like to be a "lively fellow,"
like most of his companions. He claims that his
shyness spoils his success. He is 29 years old and
has never yet had a "real" affair. When he wakes
up in the morning he thinks : "Will you have luck to-
day to talk up to a girl and get her?" The whole
day he thinks of this so that he is continually dis-
tracted and unable to work. He is also dissatisfied
with his business accomplishments. Others work so
easily and accomplish everything without friction,
he is slow and not energetic enough. He thinks that
somehow he lacks initiative. He is always tired and
depressed, and he has already been in sanitaria sev-
eral times vainly trying to get well. He can hardly
wait for evening to arrive so he may go into the
street in search of adventure. He speaks to a num-
ber of girls but nothing comes of it. He has also
tried a ''personal" in the newspaper and corresponds
with several women. But they are only platonic re-
lations. He either lacks the courage to become
more intimate with the women or finds himself
repulsed when making a suggestion of the kind. He
thinks he-is unlike other men and it discourages him.
He always feels lonely and Sundays are a torture to
him. He tries to meet poor people and pays them

178 Bi-Sexual Love

occasionally to partake of an evening meal with
them so as not to feel quite so lonely.

He is a travelling salesman. He fears that he is
not an efficient salesman. He lacks the power of
influencing his prospective customers, he seems un-
able to talk as convincingly to them as other men
in his calling. He acts indifferent and if he sees that
the customer does not intend to buy he goes right
off. He is employed by an older brother. He is
lucky. Another employer would have dismissed him
long ago. While his brother does not reproach him
in words he can read it in the brother's eyes.

Regarding his sexual life he is able to state that
sexual matters began early to interest him. He
does not remember the beginning of it. He does
remember that he masturbated at 10 years of age
and he continued the practice till he was 20 years
old. Then he heard about the evil consequences and
gradually gave it up. But even after that he mas-
turbated every two months or so and always felt
very worried after doing it.

He began going to women at twenty years of age.
Since that time he has intercourse about once every
two weeks with prostitutes, or occasionally with
some girl whom he picks up on the street and who
usually expects pay; he is strongly potent. He
has no particular pleasure with prostitutes. He
goes to them out of a sense of duty because all his
colleagues have intercourse with women and he

The Rudimentary Don Jtuan 179

wants to be like them. It is a hygienic measure
rather than an inner compulsion with him. But he
always fancies that, under the right conditions,
when the girl gives herself out of love, it must be
different. He felt so dissatisfied because he was
never lucky enough to have a real sweetheart. For
the girls he picked up on the street were really noth-
ing more than ordinary prostitutes since they, too,
expect some present if not regular pay.

He was distinctly unlucky. Other young men
were always lucky but he, quite the contrary. There
must be something about him that makes persons
keep away when they get to know him more inti-
mately.

If these complaints are looked upon as true facts
one would really think that the young man was un-
lucky. But as a matter of fact he himself lays the
foundation for his lack of luck, he alone spreads the
bed in which he is to lie. He is a Don Juan who
carries on flawlessly the first part of his adventures ;
it is only when he tries to bring the adventures to a
head that his luck fails him and then the expected
conquest turns into a deception. 1

It appears that he has actually brought many of
his adventures to a crisis only to withdraw at the
supreme moment on the score of some triviality or
other. These occurrences are all alike except that

*Cf. chapter entitled, Der Pechvogel, in: Dm Ijiebe loh.
Verlag Otto Salle, Berlin.

180 Bi-Sexual Love

the alleged motives for breaking up the adventure
differ in every case. Perhaps it will be best to men-
tion his last adventure as an example, for it is
particularly typical:

It was Sunday. Xaver felt again very lonely and
neglected and went out looking for a girl. An old
friend whom he was to meet at a certain place he
neglected to look up. Today he must succeed. He
is tired of loneliness and neglect. Today he will
get a girl. He makes a few attempts but in each
case he find the girl expects pay and that does not
suit him. Finally he sees passing by a fine, sinewy,
supple figure. He hurries after it — she is an
elegant, attractive woman. He speaks up, telling
her in one breath that she must not be angry, his
intentions are "entirely honorable." He merely feels
lonely and would like to spend the evening in pleas-
ant company. The woman is not prudish, she permits
him to accompany her and confesses that she, too, is
lonely and feels terribly depressed. \He now worries
because he promised her "an honorable acquaint-
ance" and during the walk tries to make up his mind
whether he ought not to change his tactics. It
begins to rain. They enter a Cafe where they listen
to some music ; then they go to a restaurant for din-
ner. He shows himself very gallant, pays all ex-
penses and conducts her home. The woman tells him
she has a telephone, as she conducts a little business
and suggests that he may call her up. They agree

The Rudimentary Don Juan 181

to meet the following Sunday and spend their time
together. During the weeks he plans a line of attack
and decides to put an end to his shyness and come
with her to the real object. . . . He calls her up,
they decide to go to the Opera together and then
to a late supper. On Sunday forenoon he purchases
the tickets and intends to put them at her disposal.
Suddenly the thought strikes him, he ought to give
up the relationship. He sends the spare ticket to a
friend and telephones the woman that some of his
relatives having arrived unexpectedly he cannot go
to the Opera. Afterwards he is unhappy over it, etc.

The friend was otherwise engaged, he remained
alone, the ticket was wasted. He worried consider-
ably over the matter and returned home feeling sad.
When I pointed out to him next day that he really
fled from the girl, he shook his head and said his
sister was really responsible because "I told her
everything and asked her what I should do. Sister
said: 'she is pulling your leg, it will cost you money
and nothing will come of it.' "

"Do you tell your sister these things?"

"Certainly. We speak very frankly about all
sexual matters. Sister has started the custom and
I find it natural. Why should I not advise with
sister?"

I explain to him that he expected her to turn him
against the adventure, that he was really afraid of
the relationship and its possible consequences. I

188 Bi-Sexual Lorn

show that the friend was more to him than the
woman and that the sending of the ticket to him
meant: my friend is more important to me them a
woman!

I have occasion to prove again and again that he
paves the way for his failures very adroitly and
sometimes tactlessly because while acting the role of
a "lively" man he wants at the same time to preserve
his inner attitude. The initial stage of conquest
satisfies him and thereafter he voluntarily renounces
to its consummation.

That he vehemently denies, — he knows absolutely
nothing about any homosexual leaning ! He declares
he would be right if he could only have the right
kind of a love affair. He is continually looking for
it. It was really unbelievable to hear how many ad-
ventures he was able to start in the course of a
week. He was a handsome interesting man and
found no trouble conquering women's hearts. But
he always managed affairs so as to break them up
before they went too far. At the last moment he
always thought of something or other which pre-
vented consummation of the adventure.

This was shown typically one New Year's day.
A woman from a distance, with whom he was in
correspondence — they had also exchanged their
photographs — invited herself for that evening. He
was to meet her at the train and they were to cele-
brate the New Year's together. He went to the

The Rudimentary Don Juan 183

station but missed her because he "waited at the
wrong place." Next day he succeeded in tracing her.
Naturally she was angry by that time; then, think-
ing to make up with her he proposed on the spot to
take the woman to a hotel with him. Naturally she
resented the insult and made him scurry out of her
presence. He had provoked this precipitate dis-
missal by his sudden proposal. He managed things
so that every promising victory turned into a defeat
in the end.

He was late at his appointments or showed him-
self overanxious and even coarse at the last moment,
when the situation was most delicate, or made some
uncalled-for remark. Thus, to one girl who was
already on the way to a hotel with him he said:
"Ah, all women are alike, they all run after men
and when they catch one they are happy!" She
looked at him with lifted brows : "Is that what you
think of a girl who goes with you? Then I want to
have nothing to do with you . . ." and turning
around she walked off.

That does not prevent him from running again
after girls; he even accosts married women on the
street but he always complains about his poor luck.
At the same time his sexual desire is not excessive.
His physical requirements never cause him any un-
easiness. It is a psychic urge that drives him to
seek women. At the same time he longs for friends
but then, such friends as he seeks are also not to be

184 Bi-Sescual Love

found. Only the last friend was such a one because
"he understood him." They went to brothels to-
gether. That was the first time he experienced a
really strong orgasm. We know this custom on the
part of men to be a convenient mask for homo-
sexuality.

The motives of his conduct are revealed in a dream
which throws considerable light on the significance
of homosexuality.

We have recognized for some times that this is a
case of latent homosexuality, repressed on the nega-
tive principle of aversion.

Xaver speaks incessantly of women, thinks of
them all day long, so as to avoid thinking of men.
He tries to lean on women, but never becomes inti-
mate with them because the negative force that
drives him is not powerful enough. The better
woman is for him a "noli me tangere," he suffers from
an inhibition which keeps him from every woman who
is not paid. The prostitute is not considered a
woman and, besides, her charm is increased by the
fact that she has intercourse with other men.
Through her it is therefore possible to give an out-
let to a portion of the homosexual tendency.

We shall now turn our attention to his dream.
Naecke x justly remarks that the dream is the best
reagent for homosexuality. Unfortunately he was

l Der Trawm als feinstes Reagent fuer die Art des Sexuellen
Empfindens. Monatsohr. f. Krvmitialpsychologie, 1905, and
other contributions.

The Rudimentary Don Juan 185

not familiar at the time with the revelations of dream
analysis and he paid attention only to the manifest
content. How much richer in meaning the dream
shows itself when we learn to read it and to interpret
its hidden symbolism.

The Dream:

I am pursued by men and fear they are about to
do something to me. One man in particular, bran-
dishing a big sword, is very hotly on my trail and
already he touches me from behind with the tip edge
of his sword, a curved thing like the Yatagan used
by Turks. I run to the cemetery to mother's grave.
I find there my cousm (female) who is also afraid of
the robbers. First we try to hide, then we look
around carefully and see that the coast is clear. We
leave the cemetery together in a carriage and we
drive upon an endless dark road. I snuggle up to
her, as if for protection against the robbers and I
am ashamed of my unmanly attitude.

Of course it is not proper to conclude that a
dreamer is homosexual merely because the dream car j
ries a homosexual meaning. For, as I have shown in
my Language of Dreams, every dream is bisexual,
consequently homosexual traits may be found in
every dream. The dream only portrays once more
man's bisexual nature and even the dreams of homo-
sexuals are, without exception, bisexual. We see
through them merely the degree of the repressed
homosexuality and the dreams enable us to recog-

186 Bi-Sexual Love

nize more easily the motives which impell the sub-
jects to adopt a monosexual path. . . - 1

This dream begins with a typical portrayal of a
homosexual pursuit. The subject is really pursued
by his homosexual thoughts. The great curved
sword is a well-known phallic symbol. That the
sword touches him from behind is something easily
interpreted. Equally obvious is the reason why the
sword appears curved when we learn that his brother
has a hypospadia and a phallus of that shape so
that medical advice was even sought on the matter.
The pursuer had a big heavy beard exactly like his
brother and the same figure. Thus we see that the
brother, who stands out of the mass of pursuing
males, in a certain measure typifies the homosexual
pursuit.

He flies to his mother's grave in the cemetery.

His mother shall save him from homosexuality. She,

the representative of femininity, is the one to whom

"If homosexuals had only homosexual dreams, as Naecke
maintains, the fact would stand as a strong proof against my
conception that all men, including the homosexuals, are bisexual.
But as a matter of fact genuine homosexuals often have
heterosexual dreams if one cares to look into the subject
carefully. Hirschfeld, through a questionnaire, found that
among 100 homosexuals, 13 per cent, dreamed all sorts of
heterosexual situations. Analytical investigation of their
dream life would lift the 13 per cent, fully to one hundred
per cent. The heterosexual dreams are associated with anxiety
feelings in many cases. They dream that they are married
and find themselves impotent, so that they are confronted with
the compulsion of carrying out heterosexual intercourse. We
find here one more confirmation of the fact that the dream
releases all the excitations repressed from consciousness through
the day.

The Rudimentary Don Juan 187

he flies, when pursued by men. The cousin is the wife
of another brother. She represents the typical incest
compromise. Many neurotics who are emotionally
fixed upon their family, finally marry a cousin. The
cousin, whom he finds at the grave, is his savior and
he starts with her upon the dark path of life, a half
man. . .

He tells that he was to marry the woman but she
became instead his brother's wife because he kept
hesitating and would not make up his mind. But
he had the fancy that he could be her sweetheart. He
is specially fond of his brother's wives and his
sisters. . . He has numberless phantasies revolving
around incestuous deeds. His two sisters also figure
in these day dreams. . . . He grew accustomed to
talk over sexual matter with his sisters not without
reason. He tells her all his adventures with pre-
conceived watchfulness. Thus he told her also of
the late acquaintance, as mentioned above, and was
advised, as she had previously advised him in a num-
ber of similar instances, to keep away. Uncon-
sciously he was awaiting from her the reply : Why go
out of your way? Why seek in other women what
you can find m me? . . .

We understand now the inhibition which stands
between him and women of "the better class."
The latter stand for the sister and the mother. The
incest taboo is what stands in his way. He looks for
a true adventure but cannot find it. He looks

188 Bi-Sexnml Love

for his sister and he looks for the man. His brother's
wives are the objects of his jealousy and his yearning
at the same time. With his questions and problems he
goes to his sisters-in-law, never to his brothers. His
conscience is uneasy with regard to his brothers.
In their presence he is always timid and ill at ease.
He is in love with his older brother though he does
not acknowledge the fact to himself. His brother's
strength and energy rouse his admiration. Occas-
sionally his brother sang. The voice lingers in his
ears so sweetly that he declares his brother to be
the best singer in the world. He feels that his
brother neglects him. The brother does not seem to
notice how ill he is or how much he suffers. Once
he was quite a jolly fellow but now (since giving up
masturbation) he is mostly depressed. But the
brother takes no notice of it and never asks him how
he feels or how it goes with his health. If he only
could quit his brother's business! He belittles him-
self in order to cling to the brother more lovingly.
He could not endure being away from his brother.
He does poorly during his business trips because it
is against his wish to travel at all and because he is
jealous of his brother's large business.

His attitude towards the second brother, who was
his playmate in childhood, is even more tense. He
never visits that brother and when he cannot avoid
meeting him has but little to say. He shows that
peculiar uneasiness towards the brother which

The Rudimentary Don Juan 189

persons manifest when they try to cover a certain
erotic attitude.

The following characteristic dream may be in-
structive at this point:

I am in my brother's store.. .He puts before me-
an assortment of underwear to marie up. I refuse
to do it and step out of the store saying: "Brother
can kiss me. . ."

His brother advised him to get married. This is
the incentive to the dream language "underwear to
be marked." But he loves only his brother. The
remark, "er kann mich gem haben," (equivalent to
the colloquialism, "he can kiss me," and its more
vulgar variants) plainly embodies a reference to a
sexual act.

Incidentally anal irritation is one of his strongest
paraphilias. He suffers more or less continually of
"anal itching," which is at times so unbearable that
he cannot sleep. He consulted for this complaint
a physician who found no local trouble and who de-
clared that it was merely a "nervous" itching.

The fact is this subject is now on the point of be-
coming a homosexual. Some precipitating occas-
ion and his homosexuality is bound to become mani-
fest. His last friend is dearer to him than all the
girls. . . This is shown clearly by the fact that he
sent him the ticket which he had bought for his lady
friend. A portion of the hidden impulse had broken
forth on that occasion. Usually he covers his homo-

190 Bi-Sexual Loiie

sexual leanings very cleverly. His friends and col-
leagues at the office think he is a lucky Don Juan and
have no idea that he never enjoys the ultimate ad-
vantage of the role he plays. They see him always
in the company of girls, always going around with
pretty women; he runs after them on the street, he
goes to public places with them; at the office he
speaks of nothing else but his conquests and new
adventures.

But not to his brothers. He never mentions any
sexual matters especially in the presence of his
younger brother, the one who was his playmate in
childhood.

The analysis did not last long. But during the
very first few weeks there came to light experiences
with this brother which explained the subject's
reticence.

Considering the remarkable fact that Xaver was
animated by the desire to be a regular Don Juan we
have something with which to contrast the extent of
his moral qualms. For a long time he was very
pious and then all of a sudden he turned into a free
thinker. Analysis discloses that his religious piety
still persists undiminished. Don Juan stands to
his mind only for the unreachable ideal of a free
man, a man undisturbed in his actions by any in-
hibitory feelings. But he invariably hears an in-
ner voice calling to him, at the last, supreme moment
of action: Don't! It is sinful.

The Rudimentary Don Juan 191

It is the voice of his mother, who never failed to
dwell on moral themes, who warned him against the
dangers of the big City, his mother whom he so
loved and honored. How often his dreams lead him
to the cemetery where his mother lies buried, as if
to conjure up before his eyes the dear image and to
remind him to avoid all evil and to follow in the
Lord's righteous path!

This case illustrates the significant role of family
environment in the genesis of that homosexuality
which Hirschfeld calls genuine. We find a fixation
upon the sisters, also a fixation upon the mother,
and the passionate love for the brothers, particu-
larly for the older one, with whose wife he sees him-
self driving off in a dream. That cousin really
stands for his brother. Through her union with his
brother she had acquired a new attraction for him.
Before her marriage he was rather indifferent to-
wards her. The homosexual experiences with his
younger brother date back to his 16th year.

His craving for love affairs, the impulsion to
women, was but a flight away from the pursuit of
man.

The next patient shows an entirely different con-
stellation. Whereas Xaver was clever enough to
free himself from the terrible women through his
peculiar tactlessness, the following subject reas-
sured himself by conjuring up an ailment which be-

192 Bi-Semal Love

came very troublesome, it is true, but which proved
an effective means of defence.

Mr. Christoph — we shall designate the subject by
that name — is a victim of chronic stomach trouble
which, according to the opinion of various physi-
cians, is of a nervous origin. He has attacks of
sharp gastric pains, and loss of appetite so that he
has grown very thin and looks like an advanced
victim of consumption. (Lungs and all other or-
gans are in excellent condition.) He cannot digest
any meat, any attempt to do so produces intense
pain, and if he swallows so much as a mouthful he is
likely to vomit. He denies that he ever masturbated,
and claims that his sexual life is entirely normal.
Formerly he was in the habit of going around with
girls, but it gave him no pleasure, probably because
prostitutes are disgusting to him, and with other
girls he did not care to become too intimate for
ethical reasons. He would like to be hypnotized so
that he should be cured of his aversion to food. I
decline hypnosis and advise, instead, a complete
analysis. Only in that way may he learn the way
to a complete cure. He insists he has not withheld
anything in his talk with me. He has told me
everything and wants hypnosis by all means but
this I refuse.

He says he will think it over. My questions took
him by surprise. He was unprepared. He is one
of those men who have to think matters over and

The Rudimentary Don Juan 193

don't make up their mind in a hurry. One of his
rules through which he learned to protect himself
against life's sudden perplexities is: "Don't lose
your head. Think it over."

He calls a few times continually talking about his
pains. One day he states that he has about made
up his mind to quit. But next day he returns and
brings me a lengthy written document: "You have
asked me repeatedly about my dreams. I have writ-
ten down my last night's dreams. I always dream
a lot and my dreams are always lively and about like
those of last night. I have also brought along my
true confessions to let you know what I really am.
You will see from the confession of my life history
what brought about my illness. I see I cannot get
along any more trying to keep it all to myself. Let
the truth come out."

I am now giving this life history as it was pre-
sented to me in writing, following it up with the
dream report.

The Story of My Illness and My Biography

I lived in the parental home up to my 4th year
and then I was taken in charge by my mother's
people. My father's business compelled him to be
away from home for months, sometimes for a whole
year at a stretch. My grandparents brought me up
with much tenderness, and as they were very re-

194 BirSexual Love

ligious, my education was also based on piety. They
lived in a very prettily situated village, an old,
lovely resort place. The river flowing near-by was
naturally the meeting place for us children. On
account of the danger of drowning I was an object
of great concern to my grandparents, so that they
tried to keep me close to them as much as possible.
I went with them to church daily, visited with them,
usually at the homes of elderly people where the con-
versation was almost exclusively about religious
matters, and on every occasion it was drilled into
me under the most terrible threats and admonitions
to pray and be good.

I heard numerous stories of deeds and miracles
attributed to the Holy Mother and I was shown
the places where some of these took place in the
neighborhood.

Then I returned to mother. Soon afterwards I
went to school. Sister taught me the primer and
soon I was able to go through my favorite book,
an old large copy of the Bible, whereas formerly I
depended on questioning others.

Frequently I gave up all games preferring to sit
in a corner poring over my Bible. It is customary
in the country to undergo a public examination in
the church every half year. My sister two and one
half years older than I prepared herself for that
event for some time because she did not learn easily.

The Rudimentary Don Juan 195

I followed her study carefully and was able to recite
everything as well as she.

The examination came up at the church and no
one could answer a certain question. But I knew
the answer, because it was part of sister's lesson,
made signs, the vicar asked me and I surprised every-
body by giving the correct answer. It was the
prayer, "Our Father." My folks admired me for
it, gave me presents and said: "Boy, you will grow
up to be a fine man." This praise touched me very
deeply.

I was about seven and a half when a girl of twelve
induced me to join her in forbidden games, we played
with each other's genitals, etc. This occurred very
often. I liked it very much and the experience be-
came deeply imprinted on my mind. Then I felt a
strong desire to repeat the same games with other
girls. My mother's sister visited us about a year
later and while she caressed me she roused in me a
new feeling and I could hardly refrain myself from
asking her to play with me the games that the first
girl had taught me.

Beginning with the third year of school we had
a new teacher. He took notice of me early because
I was a good scholar and soon I became one of his
favorite pupils. This teacher had the horrible
habit of calling me to his desk where he held me by
the member until it became stiff, while talking

196 Bi-Sexual Love

to me. I wondered a great deal what it meant ; but
I did not dare mention it to any one.

At the end of that school year we removed to
Vienna permanently. I was tremendonusly home-
sick for the old place; the coolness and indifference
of the new surroundings at Vienna affected me and
secretly I resolved that I would rather starve than
stay there. I was threatened that I would not be
allowed to visit the old home if I did not make
progress and I would be sent to a sanitarium; the
last threat in particular scared me especially as I
was shown some (false) papers to indicate that the
first steps had already been taken to have me in-
terned. That and the perpetual anxiety at school
where we had a queer teacher who mistreated hor-
ribly the pupils (and I did not know a word of
German at the time), had a serious effect upon me;
my physical condition was impaired, I grew thin and
lived in a sort of dream state. During my solitude
I often sought relief in tears.

I lived through the period. In two years, here
too, I reached one of the first places as a scholar.
I had a colleague at school, whose sixteen-year-old
brother was compelled to stay at home for a year
on account of illness and we played with him. The
two initiated me into all sorts of nasty practices.
The brothers slept together in one bed, underneath
their parents, and had frequent opportunity to see
their parents lying together. They always told me

The Rudimentary Don Juan 197

about it and showed me their mother's stained shirt.
This impressed me very much and I also began to
watch my parents. Till my twelfth year I slept in
one bed with my sister. Then I slept near mother
in bed, as father was mostly away.

My fancies grew to such unhealthy dimensions,
that I began to think my uncle, mother's brother,
who was living with us -at the time, was guilty of
criminal intimacy with her. Slowly my suspicions
were allayed, as I could observe nothing out of the
ordinary, despite watchfulness.

Around thirteen a school boy taught me to
masturbate. I did not do it often because I feared
it was sinful and it kept me in continuous anxiety.
Then a book fell into my hands describing the ter-
rible consequences of the habit. That scared me
off completely, and as a positive protection, when I
was about fourteen and a half I swore over grand-
father's grave that I would have nothing to do with
sexual matters till my twentieth year. I suffered a
great deal in consequence on account of my pent-up
desires. But I was fairly faithful to my oath.

At fourteen I joined a higher institution. My
preparation was far below that of my colleagues
and one of the teachers warned me that I might not
be able to keep up with the course at that institution.
That worried me a great deal. It affected me con-
siderably to think that in this way I might be
hampered in the free choice of a vocation.

198 Bi-Semml Love

At the first examination it turned out that only
I and one other student passed successfully and I
looked upon that as a divine favor, the more so be-
cause my very affectionate grandmother prayed for
me continually.

I was permitted to take the course on condition
that I should earn for myself remission of the school
fees, which amounted to a considerable sum. Only
the best scholars received free tuition. I plunged
zealously into the subjects on which my preliminary
preparation was weak.

My thrifty zeal was not flawless. I was always
confident that God was with me and I thought that
I owed to his intervention, rather than to my con-
stant application the position of a scholar of the
first rank which I had attained in two years' time.

During that period I came again into contact with
that girl who was the first to initiate me into sexual
matters. Her presence continually disturbed me.

When I was about seventeen and a half I had
some innocent love affairs with some other girls, but
although opportunities for coitus were frequent, I
never took advantage of them. Reason: my fear
of immoral deeds.

I slept with my sister and a girl cousin in one
room. I concentrated my attention upon the girl
cousin. The frequent allurements kept me in a
continuous state of agitation the more so because
I could see that the cousin, too, had to struggle hard

The Rudimentary Don Juan 199

to suppress her inclinations and desires. I with-
stood all temptation and remained innocent.

Towards the end of the school years I came into
closer contact with a girl who had already previously
attracted my attention. We became deeply in-
terested in one another, but we could meet only oc-
casionally and that under very strict conditions.
We had to part in the end ; as I really loved the girl
it made me suffer a great deal. During the oc-
casions when we did steal away to our secret trysting
place I felt a peculiar excitation which settled on
my stomach ; if I ate it caused me nausea.

After completing my course of study I entered the
employ of a local business house. I became ac-
quainted with another girl, and strange enough, we
two also had to overcome considerable difficulties
when we tried to meet. After about a year we
could meet freely and shortly after there were no
more difficulties in our way. But I lost interest in
her by that time, and decided that I would have
nothing to do with any such foolish love affairs.

Whereas formerly I was kept back from any
thought of coitus with a decent girl because I con-
sidered it an unworthy and dishonorable act, now
whenever I was about to meet a girl I was seized
with a gastric discomfort and even vomiting. Once
in the girl's company that would disappear.

I gave up all affairs of heart, but my condition
became gradually worse. I vomited several times

200 Bi-Sexual Love

daily, I could not even tolerate a mouthful of bread
on my stomach, even clear soup was hard for me to
take. Every time I swallowed I felt like vomiting
and I could not even drink. Besides that I suffered
of sleeplessness and of strong neurasthenic pains.

Finally I had to give up work for a year and I
spent four months of that time in the country but
my condition did not improve very much.

It caused me a great deal of tension to suppress
my strong sexual impulses. Contact with a public
woman seemed shameful to me, and with a good girl
I could not enter into any intimate relations partly
for moral reasons and partly on account of lack of
favorable opportunity.

I felt inhibited from the moment my illness began.
I decided to resort to public women upon the express
advice of a physician.

This remarkable case is as clear as a school
problem and richly illustrates the various factors
which determine a person's attitude regarding sexual
matters. The subject is a simple man who has
not yet mastered completely the German language
and he has repressed but little. His youth and
his sexual struggles apparently stretch before his
memory like an open book. He has had many
dreams and remembers them well. We note the
genuine religious background. He is no longer

The Rudimentary Don Juan 201

pious and does not care to go to church service.
Nevertheless it ought not to be difficult to per-
ceive that back of his fear of immoral acts stands
the fear of divine punishment, — a consequence of
his early moral training. This man has been
brought up with fear in his heart. This breed-
ing of the germ of fear in his soul was responsible
for his anxiety neurosis. Witches appeared to ad-
monish him, in the school he was spurred on by dire
threats to do his best. Then there was his power-
ful sexual craving which he, nevertheless, found pos-
sible to withstand. Whence did he acquire the
strength to keep away from his girl cousin, al-
though she so warmly attracted him and even en-
couraged him? Was it the proximity of his sister
who occupied the same room? Some occurrences
between him and that sister he had overlooked in his
voluntary account of his life, otherwise fairly ac-
curate. He avoided incest, but besides the moral
and religious inhibitions, there must have been some-
thing more to keep him so effectively away from
women. His trouble which asserts itself before
keeping a secret appointment is nausea. Dislike
and fear are protective defences against sinning.
We recognize readily this disgust for woman, so
strongly emphasized by most genuine homosexuals.
We know that this aversion covers a repressed crav-
ing, a craving which is unbearable to consciousness

202 BirSexual Love

for one reason or another and therefore breaks out
in the negative form as disgust. The latter serves
as defence and protection against the very tendencies
which generate the powerful cravings.

The disturbance is a cover for the incest motive.
He cannot approach a woman because he sees in her
the grandmother, the mother, or the sister, a fact of
which he was often fully aware. Quo me vertam?
There is open before him the homosexual path, since
the road to woman is closed. The episode with the
teacher, the "vile doings" with his school companions
were a sort of initiation ... Here repression sets
in. He knows nothing about his homosexuality.
But the dream betrays and tells more than the
subject is prepared to see as yet. We shall there-
fore begin the analysis with an analysis of the dream.

That Night's Dream.

I stand before the door of a dwelling in my home
town and gaze upon the surrounding landscape.

While I am immersed in thought, my uncle comes
along; he had helped through the day working in
the field and on his way home stopped near me in
front of the big door; he throws out some jocular
allusions ; among other remarks saying : "it would
be healthier for you if you plowed up a few acres
instead of idling away."

I point to the team of horses hitched to the har-
row, jocularly saying: "oh, yes, certainly, but not

The Rudimentary Don Juan 203

with so poor a team. These two animals should
have been dumped on the scrap heap long ago,
specially this left one bearing himself so proudly
when he is only an old nag."

I hardly finished my words, when the horse started
and broke his traces madly to jump at me.

I started to run, fled up the first stairway and
ran into the kitchen shutting the door after me.
Then I ran into the next room and barricaded the
door with every furniture article I found handy.
The horse was already at the door kicking until he
broke through and made his way into the room.

Meanwhile I ran to another room, again shutting
the door but even as I did so I knew that it wouldn't
be an effective barrier. I looked around the room
for some other means of escape and to my surprise
saw my sister standing behind me.

The horse had broken down the door enough to be
able to stretch his head through into the room and
his dilated nostrils snorted angrily.

Sister handed me a small round stove calling out
to defend myself with the stove lids, they will prove
an effective weapon.

The horse was ready to jump inside the room so
I hurled at him first the covers then the whole stove
as powerfully as I could. At the last critical
moment I caught sight of another door, hurried
out ran to the stairway and woke up.

I went over the whole dream in my mind to make

204 Bi-Sexiial Love

sure that I will remember to tell it to my psycho-
analyst. Shortly after that I fell again into a light
slumber and dreamed that I had gone to the analyst
who treats me:

He occupied a commodious residence with broad
stairways. I found myself face to face with him;
he was doing something in a closet. I stood by and
told him the foregoing dream.

He went away for a while to attend to some im-
portant matters, as he had to drive off in about one
half hour. Then he called me down to him and
asked me to continue my story while he was lacing
his shoes.

When I finished I moved off and through a side
door and there I met my mother. I exchanged a
few words with her, opened the door, which led to a
glass-covered veranda and saw a locomotive and
open fire.

The engineer moved various levers in vain, he
could not start the engine. Meanwhile the physi-
cian arrived, looked at his watch, and remarked im-
patiently that it is already late. Suddenly a ser-
vant girl comes running down the steps bringing
three carefully tied up paper packages (or bundles).
In order to raise the required steam pressure it
was necessary to feed the fire lively. The physician
decided to help and threw one of the bundles into the
fire. It burned up quickly but produced no effect.
Then mother spoke up from the other side saying,

The Rudimentary Don Juan 205

there it must be all right, took another package and
threw it in at that spot without accomplishing any-
thing, any more than the physician did.

Saying : "That is not the way, look here," I took
hold of the third package, jumped on a protruding
piece of machinery in the midst of the flame which
surrounded it and threw the bundle into the center
of the burning mass. The flames broke forth, the
safety valve began to whizz, a whistling was heard
and the engine began ponderously to move.

The physician jumped on, reached out his hand
to me as he was moving off and I barely had time to
ask him where he was going. He said he was going
to Briinn. I wondered at that and — woke up again.

After I fell asleep once more I had another dream
like the first. I found myself in an elegantly fur-
nished residence.

The door opened and a young pretty woman came
in. She looked at me for a while, then smiled
wickedly but I did not lose my poise and said some-
thing to her. She became more irritable, raised her
hand, in which she held a weapon and threatened me.

I looked on quietly, confident that she could not do
a thing to me. Then she jumped at me. I ran to
another room, she pursued me, and thus the chase
continued through several rooms.

I was about to open another door when I felt she
was directly behind me holding in her hands some
instrument that looked like a perolin sprayer. It

206 Bi-Sewual Love

squirted a white soapy fluid. She gave a few squirts
without touching me, although a few drops fell on
my clothes. I thought it was some caustic fluid
and wanted to escape.

While she was preparing for a new attack I
quickly shut the door and the nozzle of the sprayer
caught between the door and the frame.

I grasped the nozzle, twisted the sprayer out of
her hand, threw it aside, caught the woman by the
throat, and was going to throw her down. But she
caught me also by the throat, kissed me passionately
and staggered towards a sofa, dragging me along.
I held her with my left arm around her body while
I pushed my right hand between her legs. I felt a
pleasant sensation ; as we looked in each other's eyes
we slid down together. . . .

She was saying she meant no harm, laughed
heartily, pressed me to her bosom, her face began
suddenly to change, — I now saw my sister smiling
at me.

Overcome with affection for her I wanted to press
her closely to me — suddenly the door opened and an
elderly woman came storming in. It scared me and
I awoke — pollution.

His first dream carries him to his home town and
birthplace. Our previous analyses have shown us
the meaning of this and no Freudian student will
fail to recognize that the birthplace is a symbol for

The Rudimentary Don Juan 207

the mother. We learn that the father's brother
resembles the father and conclude that the uncle
stands for the father in that dream. The conversa-
tion between himself and the uncle is a repetition of
old reproaches. For a long time he was unable to
work and at the present time he is unable to help in
his father's business. He finds a ready excuse in
his illness. The incestuous relation to his mother
is fairly obvious. The inhibitions which developed
so that he is unable to make himself useful in his
father's business, are due partly to his hatred of
the father as a rival. The day before the dream he
had a small controversy with his father, because
the latter had made an error in one of his calcula-
tions and was unwilling to acknowledge it. In the
dream he revenges himself for the reproach implied
in his unwillingness to plow (plowing here stands
for coitus) by a slurring reference to his father's
age. He was no longer fit for marital duties. The
parental couple are too old, they have already lived
too long ("the pair belong on the scrap heap") and
the one at the left (the father) is but an old jade.
(In German, Mahre, jade, old horse, here is also a
play upon the old home, Mahren). This is followed
by the revenge of the scorned father in the form of
pursuit by the horse.

The dreamer relates that he was fully aware of
his incestuous thoughts with reference to his mother
and sister, only he thought that he had outgrown

208 Bt-Sexual Love

them. But he finds that occasionally he still dreams
of contact with his mother and more often with his
sister. On the other hand he did not think the
dreams signified anything, believing that they were
but the echoes of a past stage. He does not re-
member having ever dreamed of his father in an
overt sexual connection.

But we recognize the bipolar attitude towards
his father. His trouble must be intimately linked
with an unconquered homosexuality. The account
of his illness now brings up a childhood occurrence
which had made a strong impression on him. There
was a teacher in that home town who had a most
peculiar and extraordinary way of recompensing his
worthy pupils. If one did something praiseworthy
and the teacher was pleased, he said : "very well, my
boy! You shall be honored for this," — and gave
the boy his erect penis to hold until ejaculation fol-
lowed. This was done openly before the whole class.
The teacher carried on this sort of thing until five
years ago without any trouble and then left the
place suddenly, to avoid court trouble as the result
of a complaint. Christoph, who was a special pet
of that teacher, was probably chosen for that honor
more often than any other boy. He was also the
prettiest boy in the class.

Beginning with that experience various episodes
of homosexual character are disclosed extending up
to the time when he was seventeen years of age, when

The Rudimentary Don Juan 805?

they suddenly ceased. But he does not know that
these were homosexual acts and still insists that he
always felt only the most terrible aversion towards
"all these homosexual things." The subject main-
tains unconsciously the wish to do with his father
what he had done with his teacher.

He is pursued by homosexual thoughts (the left
horse). We are now turning our attention to the
functional significance of the dream. It represents
a pursuit. The attitude displayed towards the
physician is clear. The physician pursues him
through all his memories (the flight through the
rooms). This flight through rooms has been in-
terpreted by Freud as a flight from women
(brothel). I have repeatedly pointed out that
rooms represent the compartments of the soul, that
the pursuit is really through all the parts of the
brain (the upper story stands for brain ; compare
the colloquialism, there is something the matter with
some one's "upper story"). We see that a certain
thought pursues him past all obstacles and
hindrances, and he is unable to elude that searching
thought. His sister is the one who comes to his aid.
She hands him a miniature stove with which to de-
fend himself against the horse. The stove and the
lids represent the sister's sex. . . . The dream
means : only your sister, only a woman can save you
from your homosexual inclination towards your
father. The dream also indicates a prospective

210 Bi-Sexual Love

tendency: he throws the sister upon the father and
saves himself through another door. He means to
overcome his complexes. The attitude towards the
physician is also clear: he expects to put me off his
trail by confessing to me his incest fancies about his
sister, when I had not asked him about it. The
dream indicates his intention of telling me about his
fancies and episodes in which his sister figures. But
he expects to escape thereby any further inquiry
into his wish phantasies and to avoid telling me about
his attitude towards his parents.

Then the patient falls asleep again and repeats the
dream so as to be able to tell it. We may presume
that the dream was distorted and changed somewhat
in the course of its first rendition. We really get
but an extract, the chief parts omitted. . . In the
next dream he tells me the first dream. Such dreams
are seldom remembered. When a woman dreams
that she has told her physician the dream, it means
that she is through with the unpleasant task and the
dream vanishes from memory as in the cases when
the patients declare: Today I dreamed something
important; I said to myself in my half slumber:
"This is something I must tell the doctor! I don't
remember what it was. But it was something really
significant." Thus is the physician thwarted; the
resistance is vicariously overcome in the dream, the
wish to tell the dream is fulfilled but the wish to keep
it from the physician is stronger; during his dream

The Rudimentary Don Juan 211

experience both tendencies are given expression by
the subject.

The next dream : Again, an exposition of analysis.
I am upstairs busy with a closet, which represents
the brain or his shut-up soul. But the analysis will
not last long. The wild hunting after his secrets
and treasures will cease soon. The physician has
to leave (die?). Here the physician substitutes the
father. The dream shows plainly the transference
from the father to the physician. The first dream
dramatizes the pursuit of the father, in the second
and third the father no longer figures. His name
is not mentioned at all in the dream, he is the secret,
the unspeakable theme. . . The physician laces his
shoes; that is commonly known as a death symbol
and shows the clear wish to be through with the
analysis.

An engine has to be started. He is a machinist
and has daily to do with machines. Engine is
symbol for his soul which functions so poorly, a
symbol for himself, for all the impulses and energies
within him. He accomplishes through his own
powers what his physician and his mother are unable
to bring about. First I try to put the engine in mo-
tion. I take the mysterious paper package and
throw it on ; the mother attends to the other side of
the fire. But he gets up and takes care of the fire
from above. 1 He is above, he triumphs over me and
1 Correction of detail after first report of the dream.

212 Bi-Sexual Love

surpasses me in the ability to cure him. He re-
calls a pupil of his who had to commute to Briinn.
It brings to his mind an occasion when he was the
teacher. Thus I am his pupil, I am learning from
him how to start an engine. Though I may know
something about sick souls, I don't understand a
thing about his specialty (he is a machinist), there
he is the master and I am ignorant. This consoling
thought serves to strengthen his feeling of self-re-
gard and prevents a feeling of inferiority from de-
veloping in his relations to me. There are a number
of scornful references to the impotent father and to
the equally unskilful physician. He is with me one
half hour daily. He had noticed that I looked at the
watch, to see whether his time was up. The half
hour and the looking at the watch appear in the
dream. The day before he showed his father how a
technical problem was solved. In this dream he
also shows me that something must be done a par-
ticular way.

We observe that this attitude towards the
physician, as representative of the father, pervades
the whole dream. But this does not exhaust the
meaning of the dream. It is a pollution dream
(gratification without responsibility). It is in-
teresting to see how the onanistic act, represented
as pollution, is dramatized in the dreams. In the
first dream he flees from homosexuality and there
the relationship between homosexuality and the

The Rudimentary Don Juan 213

hidden mother complex is clearly shown. In the
second dream the mechanism of sexuality is repre-
sented in action. Neither the father (the engineer
working around the engine), the mother nor the
physician can do it. He alone is able to accomplish
it. This shows the secret pride of the masturbator,
the self-sufficiency of the autoerotic personality.
(The engine's flame covered running board, a phallic
symbol; later note.) Onanism is shown as a pro-
tection against all sexual perils. The safety valve
hisses and relieves itself — an intimation of the sub-
sequent pollution.

But the fear of onanism, the strong effects, the
dread of homosexuality and incest wake him from
his sleep. Consciousness (the engine conductor)
attempts to control the thoughts and to banish the
nocturnal ghosts. The thoughts about a man and
about his sister are interrupted and he falls asleep
once more. Three times he dreams of various situa-
tions before the anxiety in him is transformed into
wish. First he fled from the horse and from his
sister, then he fled from his mother and the physi-
cian and finally there came his release. He was
strong enough to withstand his homosexuality,
strong to overcome the heterosexual longings. Now
the instinct throws forward its highest and strongest
card to overcome the last inhibitions: bisexuality.
The girl with the phallus, his sister, appears . . .
and pursues him. He is frankly preoccupied with

214 Bi-Sexual Love

the thought : give in and masturbate. The thought
itself he avoids, he tries to push out of his mind.
He sees himself in the dream. He sees the womanly
side of himself, the woman with the phallus, and this
thought troubles him during the nightly hours when
he should be resting. He jumps at the female person
to strangle her: that is how he fights with his in-
stinct, how he tries to thwart his autoerotism. The
instinct recognizes the weakness of his defence and
suggests that it seeks only his welfare. With the
right hand he seizes his genitals while with the left
he carries out an embrace. He has an orgasm (the
sister smiles at him) but it does not last long; for
an old woman appears upon the scene. The door
opens, that is, the door of conscience (the threshold
symbolism of SUberer), and remorse seizes his soul.
He rouses from his sleep and the pollution worries
him. The old woman may also be a symbol for his
mother (further significance of the old woman as
symbol will be shown later). But I have no proof
of that inasmuch as the subject describes her other-
wise.

What is the sense of the dream with reference to
its central theme? Is it a wish-fulfillment, a warn-
ing, or a prophecy? Undoubtedly many wishes are
fulfilled in this dream. The subject resists many
temptations, he embraces his sister, he triumphs over
his father and over his physician as well. But the
most important feature that the dream portrays is

The Rudimentary Don Juan 815

the pollution as a defence against all sexual dangers
and as successful cover for all inner inhibitions.

Another meaning of the dream should be pointed
out. His neurosis must be represented by some per-
son or object in the dream. Asked what the engine
suggests to his mind the subject answers: my illness.
The glass-covered porch: the transparency of his
trouble; the engine: his neurosis. The subject
habitually compares his body to a steam engine, es-
pecially his stomach. He shows various effects of
starvation: unable to eat, he loses weight, and
looks like a skeleton because he wants to starve out
his sexual longing and punish himself for his sinful
passions. This man had built for himself a mar-
velous safety valve in his neurosis. When he thinks
of going to meet a girl, he gets such a severe attack
of gastric pain that he must give up the appoint-
ment. The gastric discomfort is induced before-
hand through excitement and inability to eat. The
clever staging of his gastric trouble is noteworthy.
Nausea and vomiting are first induced to prevent the
taking of food. Then hunger supervenes and that
gnawing sense of hunger, spoken of as gastric
cramps, becoming so strong as to overshadow the
heart affair. The craving for food becomes more
obsessive than the desire for woman. These epi-
sodes are followed by a ravenous appetite.

He recalls that after the first dream he woke up
with a terrible hunger. This hunger was even

216 Bi-Sexual Love

stronger after the second dream but disappeared
after the pollution.

I have already maintained in my work on Morbid
Anxiety that hunger may stand as a substitute for
sexual libido and here this is clearly shown and il-
lustrated.

Now we understand the firing of the engine with
the paper packages. The caloric value of paper is
as small as that of nutrition, when the latter is sub-
stituted for sexual desire. Thus he makes use of
his stomach as a remarkable safety valve. He
starves himself out because the gratification of food
serves as a substitute for sexual gratification. He
relates a number Of incidents showing how cleverly
his neurosis serves him. Every woman he meets ex-
cites him but even when he goes so far as to arrange
an appointment with one and she agrees to call at his
residence or to go to a hotel he stops short of actual
intimacy.

From the standpoint of the analysis the prognosis
is unfavorable. He does not want to give up the
neurosis, his safety valve, he wants to keep up his
own way of "firing the engine" and wishes the physi-
cian were out of the way. Indeed, he continues to
have recourse to masturbation, he endures the con-
sequent regrets and self reproaches, rather than give
up his defence.

We observe inwardly a strong "will to power" and

The Rudimentary Don Juan 217

formally a decidedly feminine attitude; the orgasm
occurs while he plays the role of woman; but the
highest gratification always depends on the most
powerful inner forces. He does not avoid women
because he fears defeat, for he has repeatedly
proven his potentia through intercourse with prosti-
tutes and feels supremely confident that he could
master any situation involving no moral scruples.
What hinders him seems to be the association of his
sister with all decent girls, and of his mother with
all married women. His homosexuality is inhibited
by his fixation on the father. And back of all in-
hibitions there stands his overstressed religiosity,
which he had cultivated for years although he had
apparently outgrown it. He intended to embrace a
religious career but gave up the idea when he was 14
years of age. It is very likely that most of his
troubles will disappear after marriage, if he should
break away from the parental circle.

I believe that even one who is inexperienced in
dream analysis will readily recognize a phallic sym-
bol in the perolin sprayer which gives forth a soapy
fluid. It was natural that at 16 years of age he
should fall in love with a colleague who resembled
a sister. The obvious incest thoughts kept him
from the girl. All girls of good family were sisters ;
he treated them like sisters. The prostitutes were
not in the same class with his sister and he could be

218 Bi-Sexual Love

potent with them. The homosexual path was closed
to him also on account of his sister. In all young
men he saw his sister with a phallus.

It is significant that further analysis discloses a
fixation upon the father to an extent I had not
quite suspected before. Back of the apparent scorn
of his father, underneath his tendency to speak
lightly of him there was an unquenchable love which
nothing could quite gratify. The ugly example
given by his teacher suggested intimacies possible
only in the realm of phantasy. (His subsequent
dreams placed him with me in a similar situation.)
Thus he vacillated between homosexuality and Don
Juanism.

Why do these men hesitate in the end and why do
they not become genuine Don Juans? In large
measure this is due to the inner religious scruples.
These rudimentary types are weighted down by an
excess of morality. They like to play at immorality
but very carefully see to it that morality wins in the
end.

I wish to add a few remarks about the religious
significance of the dream. It is remarkable that all
dream interpreters have overlooked the obvious im-
port of dreams, from the religious standpoint, in
spite of the fact that they are aware of the great
role which religion plays in man's mental life and
must appreciate that such a force necessarily finds
expression through the dream.

The Rudimentary Bon Juan 219

The subject has been for years a very pious young
man. Witches and devils filled his fancies as real
tempters. The dream also shows the fear of the
devil who misleads the weak to drink, whoredom,
shortly, into sin. The homosexual tendency is often
felt as the work of the devil.

Our subject who was so very pious for a long time,
declaring himself now an atheist and free thinker.
He promised his mother, under oath, that he would
attend church services regularly on Sundays but he
gave this up when he reached the 20th year. At
first his mother objected, and was very angry over
it, and desisted only after her son convinced her that
he had no faith. But she said repeatedly: "I feel
certain that the Lord will enlighten you and that
some day you will come back to the faith." He only
smiled at that for on his part he felt certain that he
would never again be a believer. His greatmother,
whom he visited every summer, was even more pious.
Two weeks after the dream we analyzed he had the
following dream :

/ am with my grandmother. She goes early
in the morning to church and asks me to go along. I
hesitate. Next morning she repeats the request. I
have a strong attach of gastric pains and tell her.
I wUl take a sunbath, it is the same thing. . .

We see that, under the grandmother's request, the
dream portrays the subject's childhood disposition.
We note a connection between the hesitation to go to

220 Bi-Sexual Love

church and the gastric pains and we hear of sun-
baths as a substitute for religion, — a fact which I
have repeatedly observed in other cases as well.

Further inquiry reveals that every evening the
patient struggles with the impulse to recite "Our
Father" ; he resents the inclination, — "it is nonsense.
I don't believe any such folly as that." Nevertheless
sometimes he murmurs portions of the prayer, while
in a half dreamy state, when he has the illusion of
being again a child. He carries around in his
pocket, a couple of small "holy mother medallions"
which he bought at a fair: "it is really a supersti-
tion ; I always carry them in my coin purse, because
I have an idea it is good luck." He has presented
his prayer book to his younger sister and so the
book is always accessible. He goes to churches be-
cause he is "interested in the church music." . . .

How does the dream show this? The devil ap-
pears to him in the shape of a horse (horse's hoof
is a characteristic sign of the devil) and tries to se-
duce him. The horse breaks down doors and all
obstacles. At one time he believed in a personal devil.
He attended once a church where the minister
preached considerably about the devil and who said
that there were living witnesses to testify that they
had seen the devil. His grandfather was angry
because the minister told believers such far-fetched
stories, and forbade him going to that church. But
the fear of a personal devil had been deeply im-

The Rudimentary Don Juan 821

planted in him at home. If he misbehaved, he was
threatened with the evil one. If he refused to pray
some one knocked in the next room and he was told
that it was the devil that was after him. He was
brought up the same way to believe in witches. An
ugly old woman once came to his room dressed as a
witch to scare him and the other children into better
behavior and it affected him so horribly that he re-
membered the scare for years. In his dream the
devil pursues him and he eludes the pursuit. In the
second part of the dream he himself is the devil and
can do charms. To do magic was his highest am-
bition in his youth and he would have gladly given
himself up to the devil for the privilege of learning
magic. He starts the engine by means of a charm.
In his childhood his great wish was to build a magic
locomotive with which he could travel wherever he
wanted.

The servant girl who brings down three bales of
paper (play on trinity?), (his love letters?), is a
symbol of the Holy Virgin, as it is in all dreams, a
fact which I could easily prove. He was a con-
firmed admirer of the Holy Mother. He must give
this up if he is to learn magic. But the dream is a
compromise between the two tendencies and ex-
presses a bipolar attitude; he fires the engine with
divine fuel, with faith, which upholds his life along
the right path and protects it. He wishes me to
the devil that he may continue secretly to cling to

222 Bi-Sexual Love

his religion. But the infantile wish to be a magician
comes foremost to the surface. (The dream does
not portray one wish, but a number of wishes which
cris-cross the soul.) The supplementary portion
of the lengthy dream also illustrates the power of
magic. The religious meaning of spraying (with
holy water. . . Perolin cleanses and disinfects the
air) is readily obvious and so is also the admixture
of religious and sexual motives which play such a
tremendous role in the neuroses and the psychoses. 1
He yields to the temptation, a she-devil seduces him.
The old woman, after all, is the witch of his child-
hood, coming to punish him for his sins. (He ad-
mits also a strong gerontophilia and once he fell in
love with a 60-year-old woman).

The old and the new testament, his prayer books,
his confession slips, are in the paper packages which
he must burn up to free himself of all religious in-
hibitions.

The dream thus portrays a prospective tendency,
— the overcoming religious inhibitions, subduing the
dread of hell and devil as well as the fear of witches
so as to give himself up to his cravings. He takes
his life in his own hands, fires his own engine, — he
will take unto himself any woman who looks like his
sister.

1 Cf. Hans Freimark, Das Sexuelle Moment in der religiosen
Exstase, Zeitschf. f. Religionsphilosophie, vol. II, No. 17; also,
Das Hexenproblem, Die Neue Generation, vol. VIII; and
Sexuelle Besessenheil, ibid., vol. IX.

The Rudimentary Don Juan 823

The dream expresses clearly also that his homo-
sexual fixation is due to the mother and sister Imago
which he finds in all women. Finding himself upon a
sexual path which leads awaj from women and in
the direction of man, he wants to leave that path and
become a normal man by overcoming all inhibitions.
He no longer requires the protection of his neurosis,
he is master of himself, scorns the religious im-
peratives, becoming magician and God in his own
right.

Through the history of this subject we obtain
a glimpse into the mechanism which eventually leads
to homosexuality. This subject might have become
a homosexual and would have then presented the
usual homosexual life history: Very tender for a
time, girl-like, played with dolls at his grandmother's
house, liked to be busy in the kitchen and preferred
the company of girls. Such experiences are com-
monly shared also by the heterosexual persons but
the latter forget them. Later, if the course of de-
velopment favors the outbreak of homosexuality,
these recollections, emphasized and fixed through
repetition are pointed out as proof that the con-
dition is inborn.

One episode in our subject's life might have led
him to overt homosexuality: his experience with the
teacher, — the more so as it took place openly. But
what amounts to an inciting factor in one case may
act as a deterrent in another. Every influence may

224 BiSexual Love

assert itself either on the negative or positive side.
Childhood dreams as carried out by adults, may
generate either a gerontophilia, or a similar inclina-
tion towards children, depending on whether the sub-
ject assumes the role of the adult or of the younger
person. Fixation on the mother may drive a man
entirely to homosexuality as I have clearly learned
through the history of a certain case. The homo-
sexuals frequently have a morbid mother, a woman
who suffers of depression and is unwise in her
actions. Unfortunately my observations indicate
that the fancies are generated by parents as often as
they are incited by guilty servants and that such oc-
currences are far from rare.

In the case under consideration the experience
with the teacher and the latter's revolting openness
about it acted as an inhibition to homosexuality.
The thought, "You may get to be like that teacher,"
acted as a deterrent against the outbreak of a so-
called genuine homosexuality, though all conditions
were otherwise favorable. Even the characteristic
dislike of women was there as well as the incestuous
fixation upon the female members of the family.

And although much of his sexual life was per-
fectly clear to this subject's mind, including things
which to others appear only in the dim light of day
dreaming or upon the lowered state of threshold
consciousness, there was one thing about which he
was entirely ignorant : his true attitude towards, and

The Rudimentary Don Juan 225

relationship to, his father. He was continually
more irritated with his father and avoided to be
alone with him because he knew how easily they
break into a quarrel and how misunderstanding
would arise between them on the slightest provoca-
tion. This hypersensitiveness in his relations with
his father, shows that there were feelings at work
over which he was not master. What he de-
manded and expected of his father I have already
indicated. He wanted to be treated by him as he
had been treated by his teacher. In the course of
the analysis he also had a dream during which I was
the one assuming that role. He is homosexually
fixed on his father and heterosexually fixed upon the
female members of his family.

It is interesting to see that the homosexual in-
clination, despite all childhood experiences, is re-
pressed and masked under the feeling of disgust.
We understand in this light the meaning of the
gastric pains. He thinks only of women and is a
typical instance of a would-be Don Juan. He
begins numerous adventures but always meets diffi-
culties. That is, he starts relations which from the
beginning present these difficulties and in that way
there is no danger for him. If the difficulties (sym-
bol of the unattainable, that is of the incestuous
goal) are overcome, the attraction disappears or
else his protective defence comes to his aid: the
gastric attacks. He goes so far as to take a girl

226 Bi-Sexual Love

to a room but at the last moment he can do nothing
on account of his gastric pain. The nausea is a
sign of disgust. It is brought about by the homo-
sexual tendency pressing forward as much as by the
subject's inhibition against heterosexual relation-
ship. At the most critical time before meeting the
girl he is restless, and a voice within seems to say
to him: "you do not really want this woman, you
want a man, like that teacher, or that friend of
yours!" As a protection against these homosexual
notions his nausea comes up and this also acts as a
defence against women. For woman, as such, he
feels no dislike, he is able to have intercourse with
prostitutes, without aversion. But homosexual
acts are repulsive to him. Thus he remains hanging
midway between homosexuality and hetero-
sexuality. On account of his religious scruples
both pathways are closed to him and the result is —
his ascetic behavior at the end.

His asceticism is back of the rudimentary Don
Juan role which he plays but cannot carry out in
accordance with his instinctive promptings on ac-
count of his inhibitions. One step nearer and we
have the Don Juan of day-dreams and ascetic in
fact, — if the adventures with women are not even
begun. A step further advanced is represented by
the complete repression of all sexual inclinations.
We may define the ascete as a person who remains

The Rudimentary Don Juan S87

in the narcissistic stage of fixation because both
paths of allerotism (that is, homo-, and hetero-
sexuality) are equally closed to him. An exclusive
monosexual goal is incapable of rousing the in-
stinctive excitation necessary for carrying out a
sexual act, because the religious scruples are op-
pressive. His perennially unattainable ideal is a bi-
sexual being, he longs for a passion so strong that
it should be capable of overcoming all obstacles. His
asceticism is not voluntary, but a state induced by
his sexual constellation.

Our subject has found his sexual ideal in the dream
world. That is a sister who has a phallus. He, the
valiant warrior, struggles against his instinctive
promptings and masturbates. This act acquires in
his conscious mind, as pollution, the character of
an involuntary act, an accidental occurrence which
cannot be helped, thus being robbed of its signifi-
cance.

Freud points out rightly that the psychologist is
particularly interested in cases showing a late de-
velopment of homosexuality, — a condition which
Krafft-Ebing has described as "tardive" or Late
Homosexuality. In such cases homosexuality de-
velops after a period of hetero-, or bisexuality.
We will describe a number of cases of late homo-
sexuality elsewhere and then we shall also attempt
to trace the reasons for the occurrence.

228 Bi-Sexual Love

The next case also represents a transitional
stage showing us a woman in the throes of a struggle
between the two tendencies. We have here a rudi-
mentary, a would-be Messalina, an interesting female
counterpart to the case described above.

Miss Wanda K. complains of an unfortunate split'
in her mental make-up which prevents her from en-
joying life as she should. She suffers of strong and
uncontrollable vomiting but the trouble arises only
when she is about to keep an appointment. She
holds the most liberal views that "a modern girl can
and should have." She meets gladly men who in-
terest her and even those who rouse her sexually.
She knows she will never marry. She is 29 years
old and although still very pretty and attractive, —
how long will this last? She wants to enjoy life,
she would not care to die without having tasted the
supreme gift and prize of life, love. But she has a
"delicate" stomach which interferes at the most
critical moment. Here is an example:

"Last Sunday I was to take an excursion with a
gentleman whom I met in an unconventional way.
I am not at all prudish and do not mind being
spoken to on the street. As .1 walk downtown often
I think to myself: will someone talk to me this time?
I try to attract attention, just a little, and return
home disappointed if no one notices me. A few
weeks ago a very elegant elderly gentleman ad-
dressed me on such an occasion. He is a very intel-

The Modern Messalina 229

lectual man, which is the chief consideration with
me. I like intercourse only with intellectual persons.
Persons lacking culture are a trial to me. We en-
tertained ourselves very pleasantly and since then
we meet daily. When the store where I am employed
closes at the end of the day, I find him already wait-
ing for me at the street corner. Then we go for a
walk and we talk about all sorts of things. He has
never dared yet mention anything erotic in our con-
versation. I have no reason, therefore, to fear him.
Nevertheless I am watching and waiting eagerly for
the opportunity to show him that I am a modern
girl, unafraid of anything when she finds a man
sympathetic and to her liking, if he should ever
begin. I do not expect anything more. One can-
not fall in love all of a sudden! Now, we promise
ourselves an excursion around Vienna for Sunday.
Saturday I feel very excited, and I picture to myself
how he is going to bring up sexual matters, how he
will kiss me in the woods, I already plan what I shall
say to him, how I will resist him, just a little, and
finally give in. You will excuse me. It is high time
that I quit being an old maid. Is that not a pity,
at twenty-nine? At the office where I am employed
all the girls have a sweetheart and some have several
at once. That keeps going through my mind. I
am very excited and I even whistle a tune. But at
the evening meal I am unable to swallow a morsel of
foods. My stomach seems shut tight. Nothing will

230 Bi-Sexwal Love

go down. I hope it will be over in the morning.
I get up early, put on my excursion suit and want to
have my breakfast. I struggle with nausea, try to
eat some breakfast, only to vomit promptly every
particle of the food. Then the terrible nausea con-
tinues and keeps up so that I must stay home while
the gentleman waits in vain for me at the appointed
spot. Naturally when this happens a second time
he drops me . . . unfortunately it ends just that
way every time."

She relates numberless occurrences of this char-
acter which always end in uncontrollable nausea and
vomiting. She has a long list of admirers, young
and old, rich and poor, educated and some less so,
every one thinking he can conquer her as she is very
free and open in her talk and does not avoid sexual
topics in her conversations with them. She is a
member of various women's orgaanizations, like
Mutterschwtz, which is devoted to the protection of
the unmarried mother, she is a champion for
women's sexual freedom and also a Shannaist. But
every one of the men she dangles on her string who
tries to pass from theory to cold fact discovers,
much to his astonishment, that there is quite a dif-
ference between this woman's views and her prac-
tical conduct. She circumvents all occasions which
might prove embarrassing to her. An office col-
league invites her to his home. He is an art col-
lector, she is interested in painting, and he would

The Modem Messalina 281

like to show her his collection. She finds all sorts of
excuses to postpone accepting his invitation and
finally appears at his house . . . accompanied by a
girl friend . . . She had dwelt so much on all the
possible consequences of a visit of this kind that at
the last moment she lost her courage.

It is interesting that her mental state developed
first after an engagement. Until the age of 23 she
was fairly normal, very much like any other girl.
At that age she made the acquaintance of a man of
good standing in whom she became much interested.
She became engaged to him and this made her happy
for she was in love as much as any girl could be who
thought she had found her ideal.

The man had but one serious fault. He was tre-
mendously jealous. He tortured her with questions
about her whole past life and she had to relate to him
with particularity everything that she had ex-
perienced as a girl. She frankly told him that once
she was in love with her piano teacher and also with
her school teacher, a girl, but that there was nothing
else of any significance in her life. Nevertheless he
kept torturing her with further questionings insist-
ing that she must tell everything before marriage and
he will forgive her absolutely everything, but he did
not want to be deceived, he wanted perfect candor
and truth between them.

One night she woke from a dream in which her
brother and she had figured in a rather intimate

Bi-Sexual Love

role. This brought to her mind an occurrence she
had entirely forgotten. She was visiting her mar-
ried brother in the country. His wife had gone to
some relatives and he suggested that she should sleep
in his wife's bed. She did so without having any
particular erotic notions, since this was her brother
with whom she had always been frank, not as she
was with her other brothers, for she had four others.
During the night she felt her brother's hand touch-
ing her. He crawled in to her bed and kissed her.
She was sleepy and thought she was dreaming. He
kissed her again and sleepy as she was, she re-
sponded. They embraced warmly. She knows that
she took hold of his membrum. She thinks her
brother must have exercised wonderful control over
himself after that and that he crawled back in his
own bed. The whole experience of that night is
rather unclear. That much she is certain, no coitus
took place.

This remembrance awed her for she knew then
that she had lied to her man. It happened only
once for next day she left the place and her own
brother advised her to do it. She went to visit a
friend of hers in the neighborhood and returned
only after her sister-in-law was back home. But
since her young man had such complete faith in her,
she felt that she must tell him the whole truth. She
told him of the occurrence relating how it took place

The Modern Messalma 283

as in a dream. He began to investigate and to ques-
tion until it drove her to distraction and there were
times when she herself wavered in her recollection as
to what really occurred. But she could only re-
peat the one thing: she knew positively that they
kissed and touched each other that night, but could
not say that between her brother and herself matters
had gone beyond that.

Her bridegroom stayed away a few days. Then
she received from him a note stating that he does not
feel that he can take her to the altar after her con-
fession and he considers himself therefore a free
man. He sent her back the engagement ring and
demanded the return of all his gifts and letters.

This was like a physical blow to her. That was
the thanks she received for her complete candor!
She had taken at his word the man whom she dearly
loved. How could she help thinking that he merely
sought an excuse in her eyes, and in his own, a pre-
text to declare himself free?

For a time after that she hated all men. She
made no exception, including in her hatred even that
brother who was responsible for her misfortune, in
the first place.

Then she arrived at a second deduction: "it is
not worth while to be honorable! Better be easy
going, like all your women friends !"

Shortly after that she apparently ceased hating

234 Bi-Sexual Love

all men and her great yearning began causing her to
think continually of nothing but men. At the same
time there began also her uncontrollable vomiting.

It seemed that her tremendous inclination to love
was struggling with an equally powerful antagonism.
During that difficult period her only consolation was
a woman friend and her sister to whom she felt her-
self very closely attached.

But her dreams show that back of her running
after men there was something else : the homosexual
instinct which was struggling powerfully to come
to surface and which she tried to hold back by her
love affairs with men. She showed a number of un-
mistakable signs. She dressed simply and rather
mannishly ; she cut her hair short, and began smok-
ing cigarettes; her appearance and gait assumed
more and more a mannish form ; she lost her mildness
and soft nature becoming hardened and strong. Her
whole nature expressed one supreme wish : I want to
be a man, he has a better life! And, strange enough !
Now she does attract men and they dangle after her
by the dozen. But she only played and when it came
to a serious issue in the course of any of her ad-
ventures, — for some of the men had earnest inten-
tions, — she deliberately turned the whole thing into
a huge joke.

She was no longer lured by men alone. She was
on the point of becoming overtly homosexual pass-
ing through the last phase of the struggle. The

The Modem Messalina 285

nausea stood more and more clearly as a protection
and defence against the homosexual inclination. Her
dreams were filled with homosexual episodes. She
herself was astonished when she began to observe her
dreams. The very first dream she related concerned
her sister and her friend:

1 am with my friend on the Gaensehaufel (a popu-
lar promenade on the Danube embankment in Vienna)
and we are naked; I say: How beautiful you are!
You are more beautiful than any man. She em-
braves me and kisses me on the breast, on the spot
where I am so sensitive. I wake up with dread, —
palpitation of the heart and namea.

Other dreams represent endless variants of this
theme. Men figure in them but seldom. Occasion-
ally she is pursued by them and flees to her sister
or her friend. Thus her conflict is also shown in
her dreams as a flight away from men, an escape
through homosexuality.

This young woman also imagined herself to be a
radical although inwardly she was pious. Sundays
she visited the church, to hear the music, she was
not a believer, but occasionally she prayed, because
it was an old habit, she was fond of reading the Bible
and she had to suppress a small inner voice which
impelled her to go to confession. One day she said
to me: "Do you know, yesterday it occurred to me

#36 Bi-Sextuil Love

that if I were again a believer and could go to con-
fession, everything would be all right. . . ."

Here we see a young woman who was at first on
the proper path to become a normal, heterosexual
woman. She experiences a serious trauma and be-
gins to despise all men. She turns away from them.
This aversion is favored by the fact that all men
remind her of the love for her brother, which was
repressed and forgotten but which flared up again
on the occasion of her unfortunate experience. That
was the reason why she was able to entertain herself
best with elderly gentlemen and go on excursions
with them, etc., without being overcome with nausea.
The danger was not so great and these men were
less typical of her brother. . . . She turns away
from men and her sexuality flows into another chan-
nel. We have therefore a regression back to a
childhood phase, apparently past and gone, in
Freud's sense. She also becomes more agreeable at
home, where during the past years she had been
accustomed to pay no attention to her mother. She
again becomes fixed upon her family and turns once
more to her childhood piety. The period of her
nausea represents the last stage in her struggle
against homosexuality.

As we glance over the three cases just analyzed
we are impressed in the first place by the powerful
role of the inner religiosity, which often passes un-

The Modem Messalina 237

recognized. Both men stood upon that emotional
level which leads to polygamy as a defence against
homosexuality. But they were unable to overcome
their religious scruples. Too weak openly to em-
brace asceticism, they wandered through complicated
neurotic by-paths in the attempt to circumvent all
the dangers that threatened hem. One of them
played very cleverly the role of 'Pechvogel,' — a man
who would gladly be a libertine but who was not
lucky enough to succeed, — the other was prevented
by his stomach trouble from abandoning the path of
virtue.

The counterpart is the "modern girl" who dreams
about free love and mother-rights and at the same
time generates a nervous nausea as a defence against
any danger to her virtue. Here again we must ad-
mire the subtlety of the neurotic who finds such clever
means to assume a certain role in the eyes of the
world no less than before himself, in order to cover
up his true nature. All men who really lack inner
freedom are over-anxious to act as if they were free.
They apparently adopt some modern liberal prin-
ciple while as a matter of fact secretly they adhere
to the religious scruples of their ancestors.

As a great sin and "unnatural" act, it is plain
that homosexuality was out of question in these
cases. Religion acts here as protection and outlet
at the same time. But it is also clear that under
an other educational regime these men would have

238 BiSexual Love

found open to them two paths neither of which they
were able to choose under the existing inhibitions.

The woman may become overtly homosexual and
some late episodes indicate that her resistance to the
homosexual longings may yet be overcome. In this
case the traumatic incident which turned her against
all men did not occur during early childhood. It is
a great error to assume that traumas of late oc-
currence lose their pathogenic role.

There are periods in our life when we are im-
pervious to traumas. But there are also times dur-
ing which we are hypersensitive to any influences
which play upon us. Every decennium of our life
has its crises and morbid periods during which we
show a peculiar sensitiveness.

Resistance of Homosexuals against Cure and their
Pride in their Condition — Acquired vs. In-
herited — Insanity and Alcoholism betray the
Inner Man — Three Oases by Colla illustrating
Behavior during Alcoholic Intoxication — Ob-
servations of Numa Praetorius — The case of
Hugo Deutsch — Views of Juliusburger — Two
Personal Observations — A case by Moll — Views
of Fleischmann and Naecke — A Personal Ob-
servation — Bloch on Woman Haters.

Die Kranken smd die grosste Gefahr fur die Ges-
vmden; nicht von den Stark st en Jcommt das Unheil
fur die Starken, sondern von den Schwachsten.

Nietzsche.

The sick are the greatest danger to the healthy;
the mischief done to the strong comes not from the
stronger, but from the weakest.

Nietzsche.

Experience in the course of psychoanalysis has
shown us that the recollections as told by the sub-
jects are partial and incomplete.

The repressed memories and all those images which
the subjects are unwilling at first to see come to
surface only after weeks of analysis. Then the sub-
jects are astonished to discover that they did not
really know themselves. The solution of our prob-
lem appears to depend on the successful analysis
of a large number of homosexuals. Meanwhile there
are a number of striking facts which every psycho-
analyst can verify and which those who uphold the
theory that homosexuality is inborn look upon as
proof of their contention that homosexuality is truly
hereditary: most homosexuals are apparently well
satisfied with their condition and do not particularly
care to be cured of it. They call on the analyst only
after they come into conflict with the law or if they

241

242 Bi-Sexual Love

fear such a conflict. They do not want to have
heterosexual feelings, they are proud of their con-
dition and they always insist that social ostracism
alone is what makes their status an unhappy one.
They belong to those remarkable persons who refuse
to appreciate their plight. Hence the customary
statement: since I began homosexual relations I am
happy. I desire nothing else! Only a small num-
ber retain any desire for "wife and child" and for
normal relations, but even those fear it as much as
the "manly hero," proud of his homosexuality.

We must not forget that exclusive homosexuality
is the end result of a long and tortuous psychic
process, a sort of self-healing process in the midst
of a quasi-insoluble conflict. The dangerous hetero-
sexual path is apparently blocked altogether, be-
cause certain inhibitions stand actively in the way.
The removal of the inhibitions renews the acute
character of the conflict, — it means changing a state
of truce for a state of active warfare. The homo-
sexual finds in his condition a makeshift for peace
and quiet. It is a poor peace, to be sure, for the
heterosexual inclinations are still powerful enough
to generate neurotic symptoms. But it is a safety
outlet and anxiety prevents its abandon. Just as
the woman seized with fear of open spaces (agora-
phobia) finally refuses to leave the house and thus
avoids her anxiety only to experience the attacks
of anxiety again the moment she endeavors to step

Homosexuality and Alcohol 243

out of the circumscribed area of peace, — the mo-
ment she endeavors to go beyond the sphere within
which her inner voice keeps quiet, — so the homo-
sexual feels once more the full strength of his revul-
sion whenever he attempts heterosexual activity.
His customary attitude towards woman is one of
dislike or disgust, she may leave him indifferent, but
never will he admit that — he is afraid of woman.
He would rather assume the mask of indifference;
he may be willing to approach woman but only upon
intellectual grounds, he may even appreciate her as a
friend, but he flees from her as a possible lover.

The homosexual resembles the fetichist in this re-
gard: he has found his compromise, he has become
accustomed to his limitation and willingly puts up
with his limitation as being something organic, final,
inherited. That is why we usually hear that the
homosexual felt his peculiarity already in his child-
hood, that he was from the first unlike the other
children, that he was always "different."

The pride over his condition, the continually re-
peated and stressed notion that he is exceptional, thd
attitude of contrariness towards what is normal, all
these things render difficult a subsequent correction
of the trouble. 1

l The following statement of Hans Frevmark on the Zucht-
barheit der Homosemialitat displays excellent insight into hu-
man nature: "It does not require much psychology to note
that some persons are particularly impressed by and interested
in whatever popular belief ascribes as particularly character-
istic of homosexuality. Repression against homosexual deeds

244< Bv-Sexual Love

How may the homosexual be cured? If he is made
heterosexual he represses his homosexuality and be-
comes neurotic for that reason ; the endeavor to turn
him bisexual meets the course of social development.
The proper therapic course would be to remove the
inhibitions which stand between him and woman, to
make him de facto again bisexual and heterosexual
for all practical purposes. That is certainly pos-
sible and it may be attained through analysis pro-
vided the subjects have the patience and perseverance
to carry it out. Where the will is lacking no therap-
ist can accomplish anything. Unfortunately in most
instances the will is absent.

Analysis has taught us how misleading the first
accounts are as obtained from the subjects, how
much they recollect their past in a spirit of partizan-

is in itself almost invincible. But that which is consid-
ered the very essence of homosexuality acts apart and fre-
quently does so in a sense far from proper. It is enough to
induce young men who have no other claim to distinctions to
try to imitate these 'singular doings' and they become finally
interested in the acts. . . . Once the pose is assumed, it becomes
part of reality, and then contact with the homosexual circle
contributes not a little towards strengthening the attitude.
Such an influence, naturally, is possible only among young peo-
ple. But the young are the ones who generally raise the prob-
lem at all. It has been assumed that in view of the constancy
of the instinct, such a complete shifting from one sex to the
opposite is most unlikely. But since all investigators admit a
certain period of indifference, and since it is admitted further
that during that period the individual may abandon himself
to an eroticism contrary to the form adopted finally, the pos-
sibility cannot be excluded that weak characters may be turned
away from their original developmental goal."

Homosexuality and Alcohol 245

ship. Every person carries out a one-sided choice
of remembrances recalling merely what suits a par-
ticular occasion. This came to me as a great sur-
prise when I first undertook the analysis of a homo-
sexual especially as at the time my experience was
limited and my knowledge of the technique and my
understanding of resistance very imperfect. At the
time I still believed that the patient wills to get
well ; I am convinced today that the will to be ill is
the strongest force which we must fight against.
That first homosexual gave me the usual history, —
the development from early childhood of feelings
exclusively homosexual. My surprise was great
when the subject recalled a large number of hetero-
sexual experiences in the course of the following
three weeks, all dating from his childhood. I learned
then in one lesson that homosexuality is develop-
mental and not something inborn; an acquired, not
am inherited character. I was much impressed with
Hirschfeld's theory of the intermediary stage
(Zwischenstuffentheorie) but placed no credence in
this theory and awaited further proofs. At the
First Psychoanalytic Congress, Sadger reported
similar experiences based on psychoanalysis. To be
sure, Sadger conceived the psychogenesis of homo-
sexuality in rather narrow terms and for a time, I
must confess, I too looked upon the repression of
the mother Imago, which every woman is alleged

246 Bp-Sewual Love

to reproduce, as the sole cause of homosexual-
ity. 1

But my diligent researches extending over a
period of years have since convinced me that this
problem is very complicated and that there are
clearly a number of genetic factors, and that sev-
eral of them must and do cooperate in every instance
to bring about the thwarting of the heterosexual and
the enlargement of the homosexual craving.

It occurred to me at first that in many cases the
inhibitions may disappear also in the homosexual
leading him to become again a heterosexual person.
Every one who has had any experience with the
homosexual knows that occasionally a genuine homo-
sexual may change and fall in love unexpectedly
with a woman or he even marries and after that
continues as a normal person. Thus, for instance,
Tarnmfsky, in his work, "The Morbid Manifestations
of the Sexual Instinct," states : 2 " I know a pederast
who maintained relations almost exclusively with
young boys; at a relatively advanced age he fell
passionately in love with a young girl, whom he
married and with whom he had children. He was able
to carry out sexual relations with his wife only
because her face resembled that of a young man

""The flight to homosexuality is the result of repulsing the
incest phantasy." Nervose Angstzustande, 1st ed., 1908, p. 311.
A translation of the latest edition of this work is in prepara-
tion and will appear shortly.

3 Berlin, 1886, Verl. Aug. Hirschwald.

Homosexuality and Alcohol 247

whom he once loved." A rationalisation of that
kind, such a transformation, may be seen here
and there. It is quite likely that the young man,
whom Tarnomky's patient once loved, in turn re-
sembled the homosexual's sister or some other be-
loved female person and that the subject took that
step to return at last to his first heterosexual ideal.
Only a few days ago there called on me a "confirmed"
homosexual who had suddenly fallen in love with a
cabaret singer whom he wanted to marry. She was
the exact image of a sister of his who had died long
ago. Before this he did not want to hear of con-
tact with women. Cases of this kind — without any
treatment, of course, — are discussed very heatedly
in homosexual circles and the news is rapidly spread.
The deserter is spoken of as traitor to the holy
cause, he is counted out and banished from the
circle. Anathema sit ! Such cases are not infrequent.
But they do not come to the attention of the physi-
cian and if they attract the specialist's attention,
the latter invariably declares them instances of
"pseudo-homosexuality,'' No "genuine" homosexual
would do such a thing ! Homosexual physicians, un-
fortunately, only add to the confusion on this sub-
ject. They constitute themselves judge and jury at
the same time, but claim to be objective in their
judgment, — they have tried the experiment in their
own case, etc. — Oh, those wonderful psychologists
who know all about their own soul! What have I

248 BiSexual Love

not endured from those enthusiasts who imagine that
they have really penetrated the depths of their own
psyche! But any one who has opportunity to
analyze a psychoanalyst is invariably amazed at the
degree of blindness possible where one's own atti-
tude is concerned. The practice of psychoanalysis
on others does not prevent ignorance where self is
concerned. I have analyzed dozens of psychoana-
lysts and found "analytic scotoma" an appropriate
designation for their mental state. Every one is
blind about those complexes which he has not yet
conquered, whether he meets them in himself or in
others. The homosexual physician is also blind
about his own condition and should never under-
take to furnish testimony on the question whether
homosexuality is inherited or acquired.

There are occasions when the cover which screens
from view our inner attitude, the repressions and
transferences, the metamorphoses and changes, is
torn aside by more powerful forces and then we ob-
tain a view of the forces which act behind the set-
ting of consciousness. These occasions are the in-
tervals during which our inhibitions are lifted. In-
sahity permits us occasionally to see truths which
reason timidly keeps under cover. But alcohol also
tears aside the screen which covers the fomer man.
Many physicians know of persons apparently hetero-
sexual in every respect and who never think of homo-
sexuality, but who have been guilty while drunk of

Homosexuality and Alcohol 249

carrying out homosexual deeds such as are en-
tirely repulsive to them in the sober state. I had
under my care a teacher who while intoxicated — the
first time in his life — attacked a boy and was guilty
of committing a crime. When he came to himself
he felt so disconsolate, his remorse was so great, that
he wanted to take his life and it was only with the
greatest difficulty that he was prevented from turn-
ing himself over to the authorities. Later he was de-
nounced by some one. But I was able to squash the
inquiry for lack of positive evidence. In his favor
stood his exemplary previous life history and the
fact that he had always been an admirer of ladies
and had never taken any interest in men or boys. I
have already remarked before that a large number of
those who uphold temperance or abstinence are really
afraid of alcohol because it releases inhibitions and
permits the aggressive outbreak of repressed sen-
suousness.

I. E. Colla has reported on "Three instances of
homosexual deeds during drunkenness," in the Viertel-
jahrschrift fur gerichtliche Medizim und offentliches
Sanitatswesen, 1 as follows:

The first case was a 29 year old inebriate w*ho
had had a wide experience with women and carousals ;
after a prolonged period of abstinence he became
intoxicated while in a sanitarium, was seduced by
a homosexual, and immediately after that, while in

'3rd Ser., vol. XXXI, 1906.

250 Bi-Sexiuil Love

an intoxicated state, he attempted to attack a serv-
ant. Repetition of similar episodes when under the
influence of drink but when sober exclusive breaking
forth of heterosexual feelings. A clear proof in
favor of my view about the relations of latent homo-
sexuality to satyriasis.

In the second case a controlled homosexual lean-
ing breaks forth overpowering the subject when
drunk. A similar picture in the third case: A prot-
estant minister, 37 years of age, drinker, loses his
self-control while drunk and by his offensive be-
havior in a public place attracts the attention of the
authorities.

Numa Praetorius, that thorough expert on homo-
sexuality, relates : "In many cases homosexual deeds
are committed under the influence of alcohol. Thus,
for instance, I know a former police officer, a homo-
sexual, who when drunk attempts homosexual deeds
upon heterosexual comrades, who excite him, al-
though he is acquainted with the homosexual circle,
is intimate with many homosexuals, and in his sober
state he carries out relations only with persons with
whom he is safe. On account of these attacks on
heterosexual persons during his drunken condition
he has lost his position as police officer as well as
his later position in a factory.

"Another homosexual, a merchant, thirty years of
age, when drunk finds this inclination uncontrollable
and has tackled the wrong persons while in that

Homosexuality and Alcohol 251

state. There is a great deal of truth in the conten-
tion that during the inebriate state man's true char-
acter comes to surface, — at any rate his true sexual
character certainly reveals itself in that state, since
the customary inhibitions are curtailed. Here 'in
vino Veritas' certainly holds true." (Jahrbiich f.
Sexuelle Zwischenstuffen, Vol. VIII.)

These cases, with the exception of the first, show
only an increase of an already existing homosexual
inclination otherwise under control. But frequently
it happens that heterosexual persons carry out their
first homosexual aggression during the inebriate
state.

Thus Praetorius remarks in another passage:
"As is disclosed in various published biographies as
well as in certain communications which have reached
me orally, there are young persons, otherwise appar-
ently normal in feeling and conduct, who when drunk
are attracted to their own sex with a great feeling
of pleasure thus disclosing more than a pseudo-
homosexual attitude. But their proper heterosexual
nature does not appear to be changed materially by
these occasional homosexual episodes and emotional
sprees."

Hugo Deutsch l has reported a very instructive
case, which, although far from unique, as the author
believes, may be mentioned in this connection:

1 Alhohal wad HommexwMtat. Wiener kHimche Woehen-
sohrift, 1913, No. 3.

252 M-Sexual Love

"An intelligent workingman, 39 years of age, ap-
peals for advice and information to the clinic for
alcoholics. As a child he suffered of rachitis and
began walking only at four years of age; excessive
masturbation as a small boy and young man; later,
occasional intercourse with girls; he married two
years ago and is the father of two children. No ill-
ness, with the exception of minor complaints. Uses
alcohol moderately, drinks now and then one-half
to one litre of beer on the occasion of some reunion
or meeting. But this always excites his sexual pas-
sion ; specifically he feels impelled to take advantage
of young male persons 1 so as to touch and feel
their sexual parts. He has been able to withstand
this desire but once while on his way home from a
meeting where he had again taken a couple of glasses
of beer he met a young boy whom he invited to have
a drink with him and while they were sitting at a
table in the saloon he touched the boy's genitals. A
customer saw this and denounced him to an officer
who arrested him. He was in despair over the occur-
rence and only the thought of his wife and children
prevented him from committing suicide. He has not
touched a drop of alcoholic drink since because he

1 Krafft-Ebing also mentions a young man who carried out
his first homosexual aggression under the influence of alcohol.
A man who previous to that time had successful intercourse
with prostitutes while intoxicated grabbed hold of his friend's
genitals, they masturbated . . . and since that time he is
homosexual.

Homosexuality and Alcohol 253

recognizes how dangerous even a small amount of
drink may be for him. So long as he is sober his
libido is directed exclusively to women, in fact he feels
only disgust and aversion for any homosexual deeds.
When the contrary feeling first arose in connection
with drink he cannot recall. There is nothing rele-
vant in this connection in his family history and
there is nothing "womanly" in his physical appear-
ance."

Deutsch believes that this is a case of bisexuality
brought to surface because the use of even moderate
doses of alcohol suspends the existing inhibitions.

Hirschfeld, too, has also made a few pertinent
remarks on this subject (1. c. p. 209). He mentions
the case of a government official who attacked a
baker's apprentice after a "heavy celebration" of
the Kaiser's birthday ; also the case of an apparently
heterosexual high school teacher who during a pro-
longed carousal attacked a waiter. He also men-
tions a report he was requested to make about an
officer who after a carousal requested his servant boy
to help* him take an enema and used that opportunity
to seduce him. In his report Hirschfeld found this
complaint, if it be true, contrary to the defendant's
whole personality, and recommended annulling the
complaint because at the time of the alleged misdeed
the accused was in a peculiar and morbid mental
state. But we must look upon these occurrences as

254 Bi-Semial Ldife

proofs of man's bisexual nature and as outbreaks
of latent homosexuality made possible through the
removal of customary inhibitions.

Otto JvHusbwrger, in his Psychology of Alcohol-
ism, 1 has given us an exhaustive and masterly expo-
sition of this problem. That author reports that he
has been able definitely to trace the outbreak of un-
conscious homosexuality in cases of dipsomania and
discusses most instructively the relations between
alcohol and homosexuality.

Jtdiusburger describes the case of a dipsomaniac
who during the drink episodes betrayed most clearly
his homosexual love for his uncle. During those epi-
sodes the subject felt impelled to accost men — and
only men — ordering for them anything they wished,
— '"frankly a symbol, to show his affection." "One
source of the anxiety and unrest which ushers in
the so-called dipsomaniac episode or which may
entirely replace the attack," states Jidhisbwrger, "I
see in the struggle and the resulting intrapsychic
tension between the various psychosexual compon-
ents of the individual." I shall have occasion to
refer to Jvlvwsburger's views concerning the relation-
ship of the jealousy episodes of the alcoholics and
sadism in the chapter on "Jealousy."

It is even more interesting in connection with our
present subject to find that homosexuals are easily

x Zur Psychologic des Alkolwlismus, Zentralbl. f. Psycho-
analyse u. Psychotlierapie, vol. Ill, p. 1.

Homosexuality and Alcohol 255

induced to carry on heterosexual deeds while under
the influence of alcohol. Of course this is not the
case in every instance but the fact is undeniable.
Neither do all heterosexuals lend themselves to homo-
sexual acts when drunk. Often the inhibitions are
more powerful than the releasing effect of alcohol.

I have made inquiries of about one hundred homo-
sexuals regarding the circumstances under which
they indulged in intercourse with women. Many
hesitated to answer, but I have found that a high
percentage of cases have had the experience. Some
answered saying, practically : "I can do this only if
I am under the influence of drink ;" or, "while I was
drunk a girl seduced me." We must not suppose
that homosexuals are impotent with women. There
are among them many more bisexually disposed than
are willing to recognize this fact, because they prefer
as a rule to assume the role of innocents before
others and for that reason they claim that inter-
course with a woman is positively impossible for
them. I have had circulated in the Viennese homo-
sexual circle a small questionnaire which contained
also a question covering this point. Many confessed
dislike for woman, others admitted a platonic atti-
tude, but there were also such answers as : "In my 34
years I have had intercourse with a woman, this I
found very pleasurable, but after four months I
turned again exclusively homosexual ;" or, "now and
than I have intercourse with a woman"; further,

256 Bi-Sexual Love

"after pleasant personal relations lasting for some
time I am able to have intercourse with a woman";
another writes: "Once I had intercourse with a
woman and it was a very pleasurable experience but
never repeated it since that time;" — Others write as
follows :

"Have had intercourse previously; do so no
longer."

"No intercourse; presumably would be impotent
with woman."

"Intercourse previously pleasurable; sudden dis-
appearance of feeling now makes intercourse im-
possible."

Another writes laconically: "bisexual."

At least one-fourth of my overt homosexuals are
really bisexual with subsequent modifications of their
bisexuality brought about through causes which will
be discussed in a subsequent chapter of this work. 1

We now turn our attention to the next case. It

1 Interesting is also the case of a high school teacher whose
feelings were predominantly homosexual during the stage of
depression and heterosexual during the stage of exaltation
induced by the addiction to morphine (Hirschfeld). There
are persons who live a double, alternating existence: homo-
sexual and heterosexual. Their conduct suggests that they
are persons continually in search of a bisexual ideal. Krafft-
Ebing also describes a hysterical (Jahrbuch f. Sexuelle
Zwischenstuffen, vol. Ill) who is attracted to men each time
that her neurosis improves after a sojourn at a sanitarium,
while during the height of her trouble she is homosexual.
What does this mean but that the heterosexual cravings are
repressed during her neurosis! For notwithstanding her ex-
tensive homosexual gratifications she has become a victim of
severe hysteria while every time she improves she feels the
love for man.

Homosexuality and Alcohol £55

induced to carry on heterosexual deeds while under
the influence of alcohol. Of course this is not the
case in every instance but the fact is undeniable.
Neither do all heterosexuals lend themselves to homo-
sexual acts when drunk. Often the inhibitions are
more powerful than the releasing effect of alcohol.

I have made inquiries of about one hundred homo-
sexuals regarding the circumstances under which
they indulged in intercourse with women. Many
hesitated to answer, but I have found that a high
percentage of cases have had the experience. Some
answered saying, practically : "I can do this only if
I am under the influence of drink ;" or, "while I was
drunk a girl seduced me." We must not suppose
that homosexuals are impotent with women. There
are among them many more bisexually disposed than
are willing to recognize this fact, because they prefer
as a rule to assume the role of innocents before
others and for that reason they claim that inter-
course with a woman is positively impossible for
them. I have had circulated in the Viennese homo-
sexual circle a small questionnaire which contained
also a question covering this point. Many confessed
dislike for woman, others admitted a platonic atti-
tude, but there were also such answers as : "In my 34
years I have had intercourse with a woman, this I
found very pleasurable, but after four months I
turned again exclusively homosexual ;" or, "now and
than I have intercourse with a woman"; further,

256 Bi-Sexual Love

"after pleasant personal relations lasting for some
time I am able to have intercourse with a woman";
another writes: "Once I had intercourse with a
woman and it was a very pleasurable experience but
never repeated it since that time;" — Others write as
follows :

"Have had intercourse previously; do so no
longer."

"No intercourse; presumably would be impotent
with woman."

"Intercourse previously pleasurable; sudden dis-
appearance of feeling now makes intercourse im-
possible."

Another writes laconically: "bisexual."

At least one-fourth of my overt homosexuals are
really bisexual with subsequent modifications of their
bisexuality brought about through causes which will
be discussed in a subsequent chapter of this work. 1

We now turn our attention to the next case. It

•Interesting is also the case of a high school teacher whose
feelings were predominantly homosexual during the stage of
depression and heterosexual during the stage of exaltation
induced by the addiction to morphine (Hirschfeld). There
are persons who live a double, alternating existence: homo-
sexual and heterosexual. Their conduct suggests that they
are persons continually in search of a bisexual ideal. Krafft-
Ebing also describes a hysterical (Jahrbuch f. Sexmlle
Zwtechenstuffen, vol. Ill) who is attracted to men each time
that her neurosis improves after a sojourn at a sanitarium,
while during the height of her trouble she is homosexual.
What does this mean but that the heterosexual cravings are
repressed during her neurosis! For notwithstanding her ex-
tensive homosexual gratifications she has become a victim of
severe hysteria while every time she improves she feels the
love for man.

Homosexuality and Alcohol 257

shows clearly that heterosexual tendencies arise in
the homosexual under the influence of alcohol and
it also proves that under the pressure of danger the
homosexual craving by drawing on the greater
libido turns into the heterosexual channel :

D. S., a clerk, 35 years of age, has been homo-
sexual for the past fifteen years. His father died
when he was 7 years of age. He hardly remembers
his father. His mother was always very severe, and
very energetic as well as exceedingly nervous, — she
had to go frequently to sanitaria to recuperate. He
admits having had feelings predominatingly homo-
sexual ever since childhood. He interested himself
only in boys and his mother brought him up in
girlish ways. He began masturbating at an early
age and already at the age of 12 he carried on
mutual pederasty with his comrades. At 17 years
of age he attempted intercourse with girls. That
was not easy, his potentia had to be roused by them
first through manual stimulation, then he felt some
pleasure, which was curbed partly because he could
not help thinking of the possible danger of venereal
disease, of which he had seen some illustrations in a
museum of wax figures. He was also thinking about
his mother reflecting, what would she say if she
knew what he was doing! From that time on and
until he was about 21 years of age he had inter-
course with women regularly about every month.
Then he fell in love with his office chief, who was an

258 Bi-Seacual Love

extraordinarily attractive man. (He gives a ro-
mantic description of his first ideal. This account,
of course, is not trustworthy. In fact the photo of
his latest ideal, also praised by him as an Adonis,
shows the stolid, expressionless, rather common face
of a very ordinary man, a soldier in the artillery
branch of the army).

His chief was a homosexual who easily seduced
him and brought him into the homosexual circle.
Then he became aware of his condition and main-
tained relations only with adult and well educated
men. He had a delicate taste and not every man
could please him (here he shows me the photo of the
soldier, mentioned above). Unfortunately he had
the misfortune to be caught in a park in the act of
taking hold of the membrum virile of a driver. His
case is now pending in the court. He would be happy
if he could return to his former mode of gratifica-
tion. When asked if he had had no intercourse with
women during the whole period from the 22nd to the
35th year he becomes uneasy and confesses that
this has happened a few times but when he did so
he was always under the influence of drink. While
he kept sober it never happened. And every time
after intercourse with a woman he had such a terrible
after-effect that his own mother to whom he always
confessed everything had advised him to seek inter-
course with men, because she noticed that he was al-

Homosexuality and Alcohol 259

ways feeling fresh after domg so, while if he went
with women he was always depressed for days. Ex-
perienced psychoanalysts need not be reminded that
the mother used this means to keep her son from
contact with other women because she was jealous
of them and therefore she drove him to men. She
was never jealous of men. That was something else.

This occurrence is far from rare. The mother of
a homosexual once told me: "I am never jealous
when 0. finds a new friend, although he falls roman-
tically in love with them. But the thought of his
giving himself up to a woman is something I cannot
bear. . . ."

D. S. listened to his mother's advice. He says:
"I gave up drink after that and became a fanatic
homosexual."

As the subject, a high governmental employee,
could easily lose his position, I advised him to have
intercourse only with women and in view of his de-
sire to free himself of the trouble through psycho-
analysis I was able to wrestle him out of the clutches
of the law. He attempted contact with women, al-
ways after partaking of small quantities of drink,
and he gradually improved so that he finally married,
his wife being, in fact, a woman 20 years older than
he. That woman was a locum tenens for his mother!
Further observations on the psychology of similar
cases will be recorded in subsequent pages. Here I

260 Bi-Sexual Love

propose to draw attention merely to the influence of
alcohol. Drink enabled him to adopt the hetero-
sexual path.

In the last case the heterosexual act was possible
only after neutralizing the inhibitions. Similar in-
fluences are responsible for the well-known morning
erections of those who are psychically impotent.
Homosexuals, too, have heterosexual dreams before
awakening in the morning but they cannot — or will
not — remember those dreams. I need mention here
merely that every night the dream operates in the
sense of lifting the inhibitions and that the inhibi-
tions are fully suspended only towards morning.
During the first sleep hours the dreams are full of
inhibitions appearing as "warnings," but towards
morning the dreams are relatively free of these in-
hibitions. That is why we often hear that "genuine"
homosexuals are able to have intercourse with women,
if at all, only towards morning. At that time most
inhibitions which stand between them and woman
have been overcome in the dream! This obvious
fact is given a different interpretation by Hirschr
feld who states :

"The erection of the memhrvm with which many
men wake up during the early morning hours has
nothing to do with the sexual instinct, but is due
solely to the mechanical effect of pressure by the
full bladder. Some time ago I was consulted by a
homosexual, married, father of six children and ex-

Homosexuality and Alcohol 261

pecting the arrival of a seventh. I asked him hotf
that was possible. 'That is very simple,' he an-
swered, not without a certain feeling of self-con-
sciousness, 'I always took advantage of my morning
erections.' Thus the children owe their existence
not to the father's sexual instinct, but to the opera-
tion of his full bladder. The much-praised aphrodis-
iacs, are probably also nothing more than diuretics ;
in other words it may well be that the renown which
certain remedies and articles of diet have acquired as
stimulants of the potentia coeumdi may well be due
to their stimulating effect upon the bladder function
and its genital reflex.

"Alcoholic drinks, when taken in small quantities
have a similar effect and rouse the sexual function.
Excesses m Baccho and venereal excesses have always
been looked upon as belonging together. This is so
because alcohol has the effect of lowering the inhibi-
tions and at the same time it appears to weaken the
mental acuity. We may thus see why occasionally
heterosexuals confess that they have taken up with
some man under the influence of drink, and homo-
sexuals that, when intoxicated, they can have inter-
course with women." (Hirschfeld, I.e., p. 189.)

But the fact that homosexuals are capable of
heterosexual activity under the influence of drink
is for me a proof of their bisexuality, a proof that
that they have repressed the heterosexual component
of their sexual instinct.

262 Bi-Sexual Love

The hypothesis that the morning erections are
due to a full bladder will be discussed more fully in
my work on Male Impotence. I do not believe that
erection is due to reflex action from the bladder. 1
But it is an incontestable fact that the dream
operates until the existing psychic inhibitions are
overcome. Hirschfeld's patient is able to have
sexual intercourse with his wife only mornings, be-
cause through the day and evenings he is under the
domination of inhibitions which make him impotent
with women.

That the impotence in such cases does not always
denote weakness is illustrated by the following case :

C. H., a homosexual physician, tells me that he
abstains from touching all drinks because he fears he
might commit criminal acts. He is homosexual since
childhood and had never felt any inclination towards
women. Masturbation began at 9 years of age.
It began when his uncle once lifted him upon the
shoulder. That gave him a strong pleasurable
feeling and soon after that he began rubbing his
genitals and while doing so he always fancied that
his uncle or some other man was carrying him. He
had never felt any desire to be carried similarly by
a woman. Such a thing would strike him as de-
grading and vulgar. His experience in houses of

1 Cf. author's contribution, Die psychische Im/potenz des
Marines. Zeitschr. f. Sexual wissenscha ft, 1916.

Homosexuality and Alcohol 268

prostitution, from 19 to 24 years of age, filled him
with disgust for all women who can be hired. Per-
haps he might have been able to have intercourse
with a girl of better class but a certain timidity pre-
vented him from ever approaching such a girl.
Emancipated women fill him with horror. He main-
tained relations with a certain colleague for some
time. Coitus inter femora. At 28 years of age,
after a carousal, he met a girl whom he took to a
hotel. Powerful erection and prompt coitus. But
with the onset of the orgasm he felt an overwhelming
inclination to strangle the girl. Suddenly a tre-
mendous hatred mounted in his soul against the poor
creature. He hurried away from the scene as
rapidly as possible. He thought he wanted to re-
venge himself because through the act of coitus she
degraded him.

Here we see a sadistic attitude towards woman
under the cover of timidity. He really feared him-
self, his criminal tendencies. Problems rising out
of the struggle between the sexes (specifically, out
of man's instinctive sex hatred of woman) play a
certain role in this case. The significance of this
attitude will be explained fully later. This case
shows the outbreak of a heterosexual-sadistic in-
stinct under the influence of alcoholic drink. Alco-
hol seems to dissolve here the defences raised by con-
sciousness against the sadistic tendencies.

§64 Bi-Sewual Love

Very interesting is the case reported by Moll in
his work on The Contrary Sexual Feeling (3rd
edition) . I give here the case in brief extracts from
its history, as it contains points of significance in
connection with our present subject:

Miss X. is 26 years of age. Her father she de-
scribes as a healthy but very irritable man. Already
at the age of 5 she had carried on certain sexual
plays with a small boy. She admits having attempted
intercourse at the time with the boy who was four
years of age. The intercourse consisted of mutual
cunmlmgus. At six years of age she was sent to
school and, here she soon began intimate relations
with small girls. With a number of them she car-
ried on mutual cunnilingus as she had done with the
boy. From the time when she first began this with
the girls her heterosexual inclination disappeared
completely ; after that she never again went through
a similar experience with a boy. We shall see that
later she did allow herself to be used occasionally
by men ; but we must note in that connection that the
heterosexual acts took place without the cooperation
of sexual feelings on her part. At 12 years of age
she began to menstruate. At that time she had as
playmates the children of a neighborly family who
had a governess with whom she soon entered into
close intimacy. The governess prevailed upon her
to carry on sexual acts, particularly cunnilingus,
and the active part was taken now by each in turn

Homosexuality and Alcohol 265

from time to time. In the course of these relations
she experienced for the first time sexual gratifica-
tion, so far as she is able to recall. Their intimacy
lasted for some time. Miss X. differs from other
women of her type in that she is not averse to other
forms of gratification. Soon she sought also anus
femmarvm amatarum lambere, in addition to the
genitals. The thought of carrying out such an act
with a man was repulsive to her. Just as we know
that occasionally perverse men want urinam jemima
dilectce in os proprium immitere so we see that Miss
X. likes to have the same thing done to her by other
girls. For a number of years already Miss X. has
been in the habit of allowing faces amicce in os
proprium iniciire; the act produces in her gratifi-
cation and orgasm. She had first indulged in these
acts during her intercourse with the governess above
mentioned, which lasted several years. Miss X. is
also tremendously roused when she sangumem men-
struationis arnica lambit et devorat; but, she ex-
plains that she is able to carry out these disgusting
acts only when there is complete mutual confidence
and only if the relationship has endured for some
time. She declares further that she is sexually
roused also when she is struck with a whip. When
asked how she came to acquire this habit she an-
swered that she knew a man who require^ to be thus
treated by a former sweetheart. But, to secure her
any sexual excitement the whiplashes must fall upon

266 Bi-Sexual Love

her from the hands of a woman. She has allowed
herself very often to be flagellated by her friend
with whom she has also been carrying on the disgust-
ing acts mentioned above. It may be mentioned
also that when they kiss each other Miss X. wants
to be bitten by her friend, preferably upon the ear
lobe. This may be carried so far as to actually
cause pain and swelling of the ear.

It is necessary to delineate more clearly the atti-
tude of Miss X. towards the male sex. She does not
remember having ever felt any attraction towards
the male. But during a celebration where much
drinking was had a man prevailed upon her to spend
the night with him. She had always wondered why
she never felt any attraction towards the male sex
and the desire to find out definitely about this as
well as the don't-care-attitude brought on by drink
induced her to spend that night with the man.
Coitus brought her no satisfaction. Some time
later another man became interested in her and fell
in love with her but she did not reciprocate his
feeling in the least. Nevertheless she wanted to try
once more whether she could learn to care for a man's
embrace. She therefore permitted herself to be in-
duced by that man to have intercourse a few times ;
again she found that ordinary coitus did not rouse
the least sexual feeling in her. She requested the
man to carry on curmilingus with her. This roused
her sexually and thereupon she experienced gratifi-

Homosexuality and Alcohol 267

cation; but, without being asked specifically about
it, she declares at the same time, that it was necessary
for her to imagine that the person performing cvm-
nilmgus on her was a woman ; otherwise even cummilr
mgus would have yielded her no satisfaction. The
thought of carrying on any of the disgusting acts
mentioned above with a man, Miss X. found in the
highest degree repulsive. {Moll, l.c, p. 565.)

This case appears to me very noteworthy. It
supports my contentions regarding the influence of
alcohol upon the homosexual. Miss X. beclouds the
fact and thinks she was actuated by the desire to
find out definitely whether man had any attraction
for her. Absence of orgasm during her intercourse
with the first man shows clearly that even indulgence
in alcohol was unable that time to release the in-
hibitions. But she allows herself the experience a
second time and this time cunnilmgws by the man
yields her gratification. It is interesting that her
first experience of this kind was with a boy. This
corresponds exactly with my observations. In other
ways, too, man plays in her condition a greater role
than she is willing to recognize. Flagellation she
adopts because she knew a man who was treated that
way by his previous sweetheart. The relationship
of this paraphilia to the strong, irritable father is
fairly obvious. Her misophilic acts with women
show that she does not want to belittle herself be-
fore man, but that she looks upon subjecting her-

268 Bi-Sexual Love

self to woman as a manner of paying homage to Wr
sex. In my study on Masochism I go further into
this subject. The other acts indicate a sexual in-
fantilism, rarely seen in a more discreet polymorph-
perverse form.

Fleischmann 1 also records a few cases showing
homosexual seduction carried out during a state of
intoxication. He relates also the case of a homo-
sexual who when intoxicated was able to have in-
tercourse with women. "At 28 years of age," re-
lates the author about this subject, "he visited a
house of prostitution for the first time and, anima-
ted by drink, he was able to carry out coitus once
with a woman ; when sober a twenty-horse team could
not drag him into such a place," according to the
urning. But after drinking he was always able to
have coitus.

We see that the incentive to drink is obviously
due to an ungratified craving. Psychoanalytic ex-
perience reiterates again and again that almost
every craving to become drunk or otherwise to lose
one's senses betrays an ungratified sexuality.
Among the inebriates, the morphine and cocaine ad-
dicts, we always find pronounced paraphiliacs and
bisexuals who have repressed a portion of their sex-

1 Beitrage zur Lehre von der kontraren Sexualmrvpfindwig.
Zeitschr. f. Psychol, u. Neurol., vol. VII, 1911.

Homosexuality and Alcohol 269

ual instinct. In the same way every unprejudiced
investigator will find a similar condition true of
homosexuals who, according to my experience, are
bisexuals who have repressed the heterosexual com-
ponent of their instinct. I cannot agree with
Naecke, 1 who contends that urning as such is a
moderate drinker and seldom inebriate. Nor do I
believe that in homosexual circles moderation in
drink is the rule. Of course, I do know a number of
temperate homosexuals, but the data under my ob-
servation as a whole and the material supplied
through the objective accounts of physicians, reveal
an entirely different situation.

A great deal of what takes place during states of
intoxication never comes to the attention of those
not immediately concerned. Possibly infantile ex-
periences with drunken parents may have a greater
role in the psychogenesis of homosexuality than we
are aware of at the present time.

Now and then it happens that parents, drunken
or otherwise debauched, attack their own children.
I have had occasion to observe that some very curious
habits are still prevalent in the nursery, here and
there. One subject related to me that his mother
had the habit of playing with his penis until he was
six years of age. His wife also found this a con-

l Alkohol und HomosexuaUtat. Allg. Zeitschr. f. Psychol,
und gerichtl. Medizin, vol. LXVIII.

270 Bi-Sextial Love

venient way to lull their child to sleep. He thought
it was as harmless a practice as it seemed efficacious
in quieting the child.

H. T., a homosexual chemist by profession, who
has a theoretic interest in psychoanalysis, writes
me: "The contribution that I am able to make may
be of some use to you. I have often tried to think
whether dreams have had any influence upon the
development of my sexual life. But I could recall
no experience which I could correlate to my con-
dition. I have felt early an interest in the memhrwm
virile and this interest abides with me to this day.
The sight of the penis in a state of erection is
enough to rouse in me the strongest feelings of
pleasure. While walking on the street I always try
to observe the respective region in passers-by and I
try to estimate the size of the organ by outward ap-
pearances, — my fancies are full of such reflections.
I have always masturbated in front of the mirror
watching my penis during the act. But it took a
very long time for me to overcome my shyness enough
to find companions for these acts.

A few days ago I had a dream in which I saw
my father who has been dead for ten years. He
was the best man in the world, but unfortunately a
periodic drinker. When in the inebriate state he
treated mother very roughly. I dreamed a scene
which scared me so that I awoke. I saw my father

Homosexuality arid Alcohol 271

give me in hand his membrum erectvm. And sud-
denly there flashed through my mind the recollection
that he had done repeatedly this very thing when
he was drunk. But with every fibre of my being I
cling to my mother who is for me the ideal of woman-
hood such as I shall never again find the equal of
in all this world! Beyond that my love is directed
only to the male and specifically I am attracted to
common men. Can you explain my riddle? I feel
myself attracted to ordinary drivers, men of vulgar
tastes such as one finds in the dram shops. Only
once was I able to have intercourse with a girl. I
was so "soused" at the time that I then did some-
thing which I could never carry out while in my
ordinary senses. . . ."

I emphasize once more: The outbreak of hetero-
sexual excitations after indulgence in alcohol proves
the presence of that tendency and shows that under
ordinary conditions the heterosexual tendency,
though continually present, is subjected to suppres-
sion. The tendency is preserved in some closed-in
compartment of the soul, the door to which may
gape open under certain circumstances. Occasion-
ally alcohol acts as a master key which opens up
every enclosure.

It is interesting also to observe the sublimation
which the heterosexual love undergoes among homo-
sexuals. They endeavor to de-sexualize the other
sex, at the same time have recourse to heterosexual

272 Bi-Sexual Love

friendships by preference. I know quite a number
of homosexuals of this class, men who maintain
motherly, sisterly, or even grandmotherly friend-
ships and to whom these friendships are positively
indispensable. We psychoanalysts are in a position
to appreciate the source of these sexual attachments.
They are due to repression and are also the result
of an inhibition which extends merely over sexuality
but allows the sublimated eroticism to manifest itself.
Among the homosexuals there are many women
haters (misogynists).

They often hate all women with but one exception :
their mother. Occasionally some sister, aunt, or
some friend of their mother's is also exempted. They
never fail to emphasize: this is an exception! But
the law of bipolarity teaches us that alongside this
tremendous hatred there exists an equally powerful
love. Occasionally the dislike is hidden and the
homosexuals pose as completely indifferent towards
the other sex. A little close analysis shows that this
attitude is an artefact, that the assumed indifference
really covers the fear that the true attitude will be
betrayed otherwise. Beyond the apparent indif-
ference stands the fear of woman and back of that
fear there may be hidden, in its turn, a sadistic
attitude towards woman. It is thus that the homo-
sexual learns to cover his feelings with one another,
to change them, or else he transforms, substitutes,

Homosexuality and Alcohol 278

overstresses here and assumes indifference there, until
his actual state of feelings is completely hidden from
view. Superficial observers merely remark of some
man : he hates women ! . . .

What stands back of such a dislike has been
pointed out by Block (l.c) with considerable in-
sight. He mentions the famous misogynist of
Classical Greece, Euripides, and in that connection
makes a very appropriate observation. He states:

"The strongest invectives against the female sex
are found in Ion, Hippolytos, Helcate, and Kyklops
of Euripides. (Verses 602-637, 650-655.) (Here
he introduces the actual quotation.)

"These verses contain the whole quintessence of
modern misogyny. But Euripides also discloses the
ultimate background for this attitude: 'The most
wanton creature,' he says in a fragment, 'is woman.*
Hmc ilia lacrimal Only men who are not ac-
customed to woman, men who cannot endure to have
her act with them as a free personality, and who are
so little certain of themselves that they fear an in-
road into their own personality, some irreparable
damage or possibly complete annihilation, only such
men are genuine women haters." (Bloch, l.c, p.
533.)

Here Bloch has come close to a solution of the
problem having plainly adopted the view developed
later by Adler, who traces homosexuality to the fear

274 Bi-Sexual Love

of the sexual partner. Unfortunately he has failed
to draw the further inferences which this excellent
observation is capable of yielding.

Hate, fear, disgust and shame are the inhibitions
which keep the homosexual away from the sexual
partner.

Let us examine first the feeling of disgust. How
does the feeling arise? In my study of Anxiety
States I have explained this matter more fully. But
there is a form of disgust whose action is positive.
Disgust need not always be necessarily repressed de-
sire. If I should see today a woman covered all over
with furuncles it may inspire me with disgust to hear
that she is an old aunt whom I must greet with a
kiss. In a case of this kind only the super-analyst
in his folly might be able to discover suppressed
components of the libido.

But we do know that occasionally homosexuality
may be aroused through episodes which enlist the
negative reactions (hate, fear, disgust, shame).
These revulsive eifects then protect the individual
against their own positive tendencies. Disgust
covers craving, hate covers love, fear covers longing ;
and shame — boldness.

But indulgence in alcohol is capable of turning
revulsive effects into positive. Disgust is turned
into desire, hate into love, fear into longing and
shame turns into daring. If the fearful, repressed
sadism is also added to this transformation of the

Homosexuality and Alcohol 875

negative into positive affects, when it cannot be
sublimated into lasting love, the moral man is
turned into a criminal who represents but a stage
in the development of the human race.

n

May Disgust Produce the Homosexual Attitude?
Cases by Krafft-Ebing, Fleischmann, Liemcke —
Observation (personal) and Case by Bloch. —
Late Trauma as Cause of Homosexuality — Per-
sonal Observation of a case of Late Homosexu-
ality — Two Cases of Bloch — Further Discus-
sion of the Problem — A Case of Pfister's with
the Analysis of several Dreams.

Warm nicht die Details unseres geschlechtlichen
Lebens so wnendlich mannigfaltig wnd lage es nicht
bei den meisten Menschen fast m alien wichtigen
Erschewnmgen wnd Fragen unterhalb des Bewusst-
seins, wnd ware es nicht erne Wesenheit der Liebe,
vmmer wieder die Schleier des Mysteriwms iiber wn-
sere sexwellen Empfindungen zu werfen, so dass alien
stark empfindenden wnverdorbenen Menschen, nament-
lich m der wichtigen Periode der Geschlechtsreife,
Zynismen and Offenheiten iiber das geschlechtliche
Leben sogar als unwahr erschemen (Frauen wnd
keusche Jimglinge sind schon beleidigt, wenn man
iiber die Liebe ouch nur wissenschaftlich anders als
schwarmerisch, allgemein oder poetisch metaphorisch
redei) wnd hatten wir nicht endlich mit der grossen
Hetbchelei wnd Verlogenheit der Gesellschaft in erotir
schen Dingen zu rechnen, so dass sogar die Ano-
malen wnd Perversen von ihr angesteckt werden, die
es gar nicht mehr notig haben, zu liigen wnd unwis-
send zu bleiben; kurz konnten wir wnsere Erotik in
seelischer wnd korperlicher Hinsicht bis zu den letz-r
ten Zwsammenhiingen analysieren, dann wiirden wir
vielleicht mit Schauder erfahren, emen wie klei/nen
Bruchteil unseres Lebens wir wnserem eigentlichen
Geschlecht angehoren.

Leo Berg.

VI

If the details of our sexual life were not so end-
lessly manifold; if they did not belong for the most
part and m their most important aspects to the realm
beyond ordinary consciousness; if it were not a pe-
culiarity of love continually to throw the cover of
mystery over our sexual feelings, so that all normal
persons of strong feeling, particularly during the
period of their sexual ripeness look upon frankness
m sexual matters as untruth {women and shy young
men feel insulted if one speaks about love even scien-
tifically, in other than romantic or poetic and false,
metaphorically veiled, language) ; and if we did not
have to consider the tremendous hypocrisy, and
falsehood of society in all matters pertaimivng to
sex, so that even the abnormal and the perverse, who
no longer need to lie and assume ignorance, are in-
spired to assume a similar 'chaste' attitude; in short,
if we could analyze our eroticism in its physical as
well as in its psychic aspects down to the last de-
tails, we should then probably discover with horror
to what a small extent we truly belong to our own
sex.

Leo Berg.
279

280 Bi-Sexual Love

The form of homosexuality which develops late
in life is perhaps best suited to serve as an intro-
duction to our inquiry into the psychogenesis of
homosexuality and may help us understand the
origin of the more complicated cases.

There are, in fact, a number of cases, in which
homosexuality appears to have developed in conse-
quence of a feeling of dislike for the other sex.
Many authors consider the development of homo-
sexuality among prostitutes as due to this cause.
Block, for instance, writes :

"The naturally heterosexual prostitutes are
driven to homosexuality for one of two reasons:
First through the contact with and the influence of
their truly Lesbian comrades, which strengthens the
inner feeling of solidarity common among all prosti-
tutes; Second, through their dislike of intercourse
with men which grows with their experience and with
the passage of time, the more so because they see
man only in his brutal and raw aspect. The con-
tinual compulsion under which they find themselves
of satisfying the animal sensuousness of overso-
phisticated men often by means of disgusting pro-
cedures, rouses in them eventually an unconquerable
dislike of the male sex, and therefore they devote to
their own sex the nobler feelings of which they may
be capable. The homosexual relationship appears to
them as something 'higher, something nobler and

Latent Homosexuality 281

more innocent,' something pertaining to a purer
realm than sexual contact with men, a fact which
Eulenbwrg (Sexwelle Neuropathie, p. 143-144) has
rightly observed." (Bloch, I.e., p. 603.)

Krafft-Ebmg (Neue Studien, I.e.) also holds this
view and thinks that, "many prostitutes endowed
with great sensuousness, repelled by contact with
perverse or impotent men who misuse them in con-
nection with detestable sexual deeds, turn to pleasing
members of their own sex."

In connection with my discussion of the Messalina
type I have already shown that latent homosexuality
is what drives many women to prostitution. They
run away from woman and into the arms of man,
into the arms of a great number of men ! They ex-
pect quantity to replace what quality fails to supply
them. We have additional reasons to assume that
the women who lean most strongly towards the homo-
sexual side are those who supply the ranks of prosti-
tutes. That of course is true of the largest number
though by no means holding true of every case.
For there are prostitutes who are attached to their
lover (cadet), and who experience orgasm only dur-
ing intercourse with him, while the embraces of other
men leave them unaffected. Here and there the
factors pointed out by Bloch and Krafft-Ebing may
also enter into the situation. In the presence of an
already avowed homosexual inclination disgust

282 Bi-Sewual Love

brought about through a number of possible circum-
stances may act as an effective barrier against het-
erosexuality.

This is revealed to us through the life histories
of certain homosexuals. We often come across the
statement that certain men, and women too, became
homosexual after an infection, particularly gonor-
rhea. The fear of infection also plays an important
role in the psychogenesis of homosexuality. 1

Kraft-Ebmg mentions {Late Homosexuality,
etc.) the case of a young man, 27 years of age, who
after masturbating since 7 years of age, at 19 years
had intercourse with women and enjoyed it. After
a gonorrheal infection he became so disgusted with
women that when frequenting houses of prostitution
he found himself impotent. Old masochistic-homo-
sexual phantasies reappeared and before long he was

attracted to the respective circle and seduced. 2 I
1 It is not true that homosexuals are exposed to no dangers
of infection. I have examined a homosexual druggist who
acquired in Venice a serious gonorrhea of the anus. He
confessed to me that he had infected other men, because the
thought of having fallen himself a victim made him angry.
But on the whole infections are not so frequent an occurrence
as during heterosexual intercourse, which is what would be
expected, considering that copwlaAw armtts is relatively rare.
J I must also emphasize that the first, homosexual activity
often takes place in the twenties, if we omit from considera-
tion the mutual gratifications between boys and between girls
which— with but very few exceptions — are found to occur
during the childhood of all persons. Between small children
(4-8 years of age) homosexual activity is very common, then
in many cases a period of latency seems to set in. During
the period from the 10th to the 15th year nearly every boy
passes through homosexual love (either purely platonic or
grossly sexual). After the onset of puberty there are nu-

Latent Homosexuality 283

must draw attention particularly to the fact that
this man was able to experience orgasm during inter-
course with women. Nevertheless his experience
was so impressive that it intensified his revulsive at-
titude towards hetero sexuality by generating a feel-
ing of disgust. (In other cases under similar cir-
cumstances there arises a dislike for prostitutes, and
the subject seeks as sexual partner a healthy
woman.) The infection often becomes the root of
a phantastic hatred of women without leading all
the way to the development of a manifest homo-
sexuality. 1 The next case which has come under my
own observation belongs to this category:

I. P., engineer, 30 years of age, appears to me a
typical anxiety neurotic. He is unable to leave his
room, a personal servant must accompany him
wherever he goes. For the past ten years has been
sexually abstinent, because he had the misfortune to
acquire a very serious luetic infection from a so-
called "respectable" woman. Since that experience
he feels a tremendous hatred for the sex. He reads
with interest Strmdberg, gloats over Weimmger and
he has translated into a foreign language Moebius'

merous variations: persons who later become homosexual con-
tinue heterosexual activity, try all sorts of experiments and
then withdraw into homosexuality in consequence of some
unpleasant heterosexual experience (infection, claim of parent-
hood, etc.) or on account of impotence.

1 As is well known Block has endeavored to show that
Schopenhauer's antifeminism and pessimism are traceable to
syphilitic infection acquired during youth.

284 Bi-Sexual Love

"Der physiologische Schwachskm des Weibes."
Homosexual activity does not inspire him with dis-
gust but he claims that it has no attraction for him.
Analysis discloses that the anxiety attacks appear
as a defence against homosexual deeds. After the
syphilitic infection he was for a time in danger of
becoming homosexual. Now he protects himself
against that tendency by various defensive measures.
The path to woman is effectively blocked for him
through his disgust and hatred of the sex.

The cure of his anxiety state was not very diffi-
cult. A few years later I found him a married man.
He had married a woman who was 10 years older
than he and who lacked every womanly character-
istic. He is entirely potent in his marital relations,
claims to experience orgasm satisfactorily, and be-
lieves his orgasm would be even greater if he did not
have to use precautionary measures against preg-
nancy. As a syphilitic he wants to avoid bringing
sickly children into the world. For coitus he prefers
the a posteriori position and situs irwersw and justi-
fies this theoretically on the basis of the structure of
the female genitalia. . . .

Concerning the relationship between sexual in-
fection and homosexuality we also have an illumin-
ating observation by Fleischmann. 1 This case is

an urUnd (homosexual woman) :

x Beitrdge zur Lehre der kontraeren Qeschlechtsempfindutig.
Zeitschrift f. d. ges. Neurol, u. Pathologie, 1911.

Latent Homosexuality £85

She is an illegitimate child. Father a heavy
drinker. She was badly brought up, neglected and
persecuted. As a child she avoided work and was
unruly. Prison experience. "At 16 years of age
I had to earn my own living. My first position was
in a restaurant serving beer. There I met Mr. X.,
the man who seduced me and gave me a sexual
disease.

"At the hospital I saw and heard things that
opened my eyes. From that time on I worked no
longer. Years passed in struggle with suffering and
want ; prison life ; house of correction ; solitary con-
finement. In the house of correction most girls
handled one another at night and from that time on
no man could interest me any more. I have inter-
course only with girls who are pretty. For the past
year I have been a prostitute, — mostly drunk, — for I
wanted to forget what has become of me and the
morbid inclination to which I have fallen a victim."

The first sexual experience of the poor girl an in-
fection! Then followed the homosexual seduction
and the heterosexual channel was blocked. We see
here the characteristic homosexuality of the prosti-
tute, already mentioned; then alcoholism, obviously
to forget her longing after true love. It must be
clear also that her hatred of the father played a
certain role and that this feeling towards the drunk-
ard who brought her into the world a bastard she
transferred towards all men.

286 Bi-Sexual Love

The two cases reported by Ziemlce x are also fairly
clear:

An artist ; between the age of 16 and 17 years a
relative taught him to masturbate and he kept up
the practice regularly every week. At 18 years of
age first intercourse with woman; acquired gonorr-
hea ; later, once more coitus, this time with a prosti-
tute; never took any particular interest in the fe-
male sex ; on the other hand as a boy 9 years of age
he already was pleased at the sight of the membm/m
virile so much that it brought on erection. First
sexual dreams were definitely of homosexual import,
according to his own declaration, and continued of
that character. Later has had repeated sexual ex-
periences with other men, always feels fresh and well
after that, while normal sexual intercourse fills him
with disgust. His sexual partner he seeks among
men of middle age ; he is familiar with the literature
on homosexuality.

Another case: Former officer, 38 years of age,
mother said to have been a very nervous woman.
Very shy and bashful as a child in the presence of
older persons or strangers. At high school had to
repeat the same class twice, was coached and suc-
ceeded at last to pass the army examination for
officer. After a few years was dismissed from the
army because he had mishandled his man-servant,

1 Zur Entstehwng sexiieller Perversitaten vmd ihrer BewteU~
nng vor Oericht. Archiv f. Psychiatrie, vol. LI, 1913.

The Role of Sexual Infection 287

went to South-West Africa, there settled as a
farmer, and as a volunteer participated in several
small riots.

His first sexual feelings arose around the 12th
year; he contends that till that time he knew ab-
solutely nothing about sexual matters. At that age
an experience brought his attention to the subject
of sex for the first time; he played circus with a
younger sister and with his 10-year old uncle and
sat on the latter's back. While imitating a rider's
movements he noticed that his penis became stiff and
he had a pleasurable sensation wetting himself in
front. He did not know the meaning of this occur-
rence but was too shy to tell anyone about it.
Shortly after that he tried deliberately to reproduce
similar situations; whenever he succeeded he also
tried to attain ejaculation. He insists that he was
not attracted particularly to his uncle, whom alone
he had used for this form of gratification, nor to any
other boy or man, his only desire at the time was to
achieve ejaculation. Later during his high school
years, when he had opportunity to gratify himself
in the same way, he met a young colleague of his own
age, a strong and beautiful boy, who appealed to
him very strongly and with that boy playing the
passive role he indulged more and more frequently in
sexual deeds. In fact as soon as he met that par-
ticular boy the thought occurred to him that he
would like to have him for the gratification of his

288 Bi-Sexual Love

sexual feelings in the manner peculiar to himself.
During play he used all manner of excuses to climb
upon his friend's back and to imitate a rider's gal-
loping movements until he had ejaculation. Subse-
quently he found frequent occasion to use other col-
leagues in the same way. After drinking it was
particularly difficult for him to restrain himself;
that is why he frequently had to do with soldiers
while intoxicated and one day he was caught and
this led to his dismissal from the army. In order to
get rid of his unnatural inclination he took up a girl,
had normal intercourse with her a few times but
without any pleasurable feeling on his part, although
in order to accomplish this he had to suppose himself
riding a man in the manner customary with him, and
eventually he acquired a gonorrheal infection. Then
he migrated to South-West Africa, but even there
was unable to master his inclination, felt himself im-
pelled to maintain relations with young Hottentots,
was caught at it, sentenced to jail, and finally ban-
ished from the Country.

In this case the gonorrheal infection seems to
have put an end to his heterosexual period.

I recall a number of other cases in which homo-
sexuality broke out after gonorrhea, according to
the testimony obtained during my consultation
hours. In fact, there was a time when I was a firm
believer in the theory of inherited homosexuality, in

The Role of Sexual Infection 289

Hirschf eld's sense, so that I turned down all these
cases and did not care to undertake a psycho-
analysis of them. In the homosexual circles I had
quite a reputation at the time as a man worthy of
their confidence. But since I have found that homo-
sexuals are really bisexual neurotics who have re-
pressed their heterosexuality, these men come to me
more rarely and consult me chiefly when they get into
conflict with the law. The solidarity of homo-
sexuals and their will to hold on to the notion that
their condition is inborn goes hand in hand. Their
secret organisation is thorough, and even where
formal organisations are lacking, homosexuals know
each other and they are always ready to introduce
to one another their friends and colleagues.

Dr. S. K., physician, 32 years of age, relates that
he has a pronounced heterosexual past. At any
rate his longing previously was purely physical and
psychically he was completely indifferent. As ship
surgeon he acquired a severe gonorrhea in a port
and this trouble lasted some six months. He suf-
fered all possible complications : epididymitis, a pos-
terior prostatitis and finally, a gonorrheal rheu-
matism of the joints. Since that trouble he has felt
a terrific disgust for women. In Alexandria while
entering a cabin he saw one of the ship lieutenants
committing pederasty with a local boy. He knew
that at the various ports young boys visited the

290 Bi-Sexual Love

ships and offered themselves to the homosexual offi-
cers. The scene evoked in him a terrific nausea and
he wanted to drop that officer from among his ac-
quaintances. But the latter spoke up frankly con-
fessing that he became homosexual after being se-
duced and since then he was completely impotent in
the company of a woman. He begged the physician
to keep his secret and not to betray him. He was
the only intellectual man on board that ship with
whom it was pleasant to have relations. In a few
weeks the two men became intimate with each other:
"Then, for the first time, I learned what love was and
I had never before been as happy as that. My
heterosexual past now seemed unbelievable. But
in Platen's diary I came across a passage telling
that as a young man he too had been in love with a
girl named Euphrasia and that he learned only later
the true direction of his sexual instinct. It was the
same with me. I was born a homosexual although I
had to go through some experiences before my eyes
opened."

In this case the gonorrheal infection and the
trivial incident during the journey through the
Orient furnished the occasion for the outbreak of
homosexuality. But is not the subject in error re-
garding the strength of his homosexual predisposi-
tion? It is interesting to note that his homosexual
attitude is promptly beatified and idealized through
the addition of psychic factors. Indeed, the homo-

The Role of Sexual Infection 891

6exuals display a greater love intoxication than
the heterosexuals. Such a degree of love frenzy as
is displayed by the homosexuals is hardly ever seen
among the heterosexuals. Homosexuality repre-
sents a harbor of refuge, an attempt to lose one's
self exclusively in one direction, whitjh must be con-
ceived as an attempt on the part of the psyche to
neutralize all other tendencies by the over-emphasis
of that supreme passion.

We find frequently that the homosexuals contend
that their previous heterosexual leanings were ex-
clusively physical. 1 Psychically their love relations
must be exclusively homosexual. In fact it is com-
mon to find men sublimating into friendship their
craving for psychic love while woman remains with
them merely an instrument for sin (mstrwmentum
diaboli).

A certain homosexual whose history is of particu-
lar interest because he recalls clearly his hetero-
sexual period told Bloch:

"At what age my sexual feelings first arose I am

unable to recall. My sexual desires are directed

towards the male. Before and during my puberty

the actual direction of my desire was not clear, m

1 We shall see later that this attitude is due to the fact that
these persons fix their whole heterosexual psychic eroticism
upon the immediate members of their family. Heterosexual
men in this situation often experience merely physical grati-
fication during intercourse with prostitutes; with the other
type of women they are wholly impotent.

292 Bi-Sexual Love

fact I believe I did entertain at the time a wish to
have once intercourse with a girl. But it was not
love, what I felt was merely a physical longing, —
the psychic counterpart of the instinct was entirely
absent at the time. Now I feel myself inclined ex-
clusively towards young boys. I have had no in-
tercourse thus far either with males or females, but
I believe I would be able to carry out the sexual act
in a normal way ; I know, however, that it would not
be pleasurable to me, it would not amount to more
than masturbation so far as I am concerned. To-
wards the female sex I am completely indifferent, I
feel neither disgust nor any dislike. My love dreams
are always concerned with persons of my own sex."
(Bloch, I.e., p. 566.)

Homosexuality often develops also in women fol-
lowing an infection:

Miss Erna, 42 years of age, writer, shows pre-
eminent male features, behaves peculiarly like a male,
smokes, drinks, is a preeminent champion of
women's rights. She claims to be innately homo-
sexual, even as a child she assumed a male role, and
was wilder than her brothers. She always passed
for an uncontrollable tomboy. Had no intimation
about her homosexual condition. Masturbated
very early and already at the age of 15 she main-
tained clandestine relations with an army officer
who had seduced her. But she claims that her ex-

The Significance of Trauma 293

perience was exclusively physical. She has experi-
enced orgasm with men. At 19 years of age another
army officer gave her a venereal disease. Since that
time she feels a tremendous dislike for all men. At
22 years of age she conceived a romantic love for a
woman friend. They kept up a relationship during
which she maintained the male role. She even pro-
cured for herself an artificial phallus and wore male
clothes in the house. It was like a genuine marriage.
"I know only since then what love really means.
Formerly I only felt a liking for men. It was
merely a physical attraction. But for the past 20
years my love has been exclusively for women."
After the first "homosexual marriage," which lasted
only three years because her friend deserted her and
married, she had numerous relations with other
women.

Very convincing are the cases in which the homo-
sexual outbreak occurs first after some powerful
trauma! It is not always gonorrhea. Often
various other experiences furnish the inciting mo-
ment as I can easily prove on the basis of my own
observations. But first I must quote a case re-
ported by Krafft-Ebing which is illuminating on
this score:

Miss X., 22 years of age, is considered a beauty,
men flock around her whenever she appears in
society ; she is decidedly of a sensuous nature, seems

294 Bi-Sexual Love

born to be an Astasia, but rejects all advances.
One of her admirers, however, a young scientist, she
looks upon with some favor, becomes intimate with
him, allows herself to be kissed by him, but not like
a lovmg woman; and when the young man believes
himself close to the consummation of his supreme
desire she begs him with tears in her eyes to desist
because she is utterly unable to yield to him, not
on account of moral grounds so much as for deeper
psychic reasons. In the course of the exchange of
written confidences which followed that unsuccessful
meeting between the two the homosexual character of
her inclination was clearly revealed to her.

Miss X. had a father who was addicted to drink
and a hysteropathic mother. She herself is of a
neuropathic constitution; has full breasts, and gen-
erally the outward appearance of an unusually at-
tractive woman but reveals boyish ways about her
and various male peculiarities, — she fences, rides
horseback, smokes and has a decidedly mannish way
of standing and walking. Lately her romantic at-
tachment to young women has become quite notice-
able. She has a young woman with her sharing her
apartment.

Miss X. claims that up to the time of puberty she
was sexually indifferent. At 17 years of age she
became acquainted at a summer resort with a young
foreigner whose "majestic" figure made a tremen-
dous impression upon her. The privilege of danc-

The Significance of Trauma 295

ing a whole evening with him made her happy. The
following evening, at twilight, she witnessed a hor-
rible scene — from her window she saw that wonderful
man m the bushes futuare more bestiarum mulierem
quandam inter menstruationem.

Adspectu sanguinis currentis et libidinis quasi
bestialis viri Miss X. felt shocked, she seemed power-
less and crushed, could hardly recover her psychic
equilibrium and for some time after that could
neither sleep nor eat; from that time on man stood vn
her mind for the quintessence of bestiality.

Two years later a young woman approached her
in a public garden, smiled and glanced at her with a
very peculiar look which penetrated deeply into her
soul. The following day Miss X. felt impelled to
visit again that public garden. The woman was
there, in fact, she seemed to have been expecting her.
They greeted one another like old acquaintances;
they talked and joked pleasantly and thereafter met
by appointment daily, first in the garden, and later,
when the weather became unpleasant, in the woman's
living apartment. "One day," Miss X. relates con-
fidentially "the woman led me up to her divan and
allowed me to glide to the floor while she seated her-
self. She lifted her shy eyes at me, stroked the hair
off my forehead softly with her hand, saying: 'Oh,
if I could once love you the real way, may I?' I
consented, and as we sat close by gazing into each
other's eyes, before we knew it we passed to that love

296 Bi-Sexual Loiie

from which there is no drawing back. . . She was
bewitchingly beautiful. For me the whole experi-
ence was something new and intoxicating:. ... I
do not believe that man is ever able to feel such deli-
cate, bewitching, exquisite intoxication. . . . Man
is not sufficiently sensitive, he is not delicate enough
for that. . . Our foolish abandon lasted until I fell
back exhausted, helpless, intoxicated. In this ex-
hausted state I was lying on her bed when suddenly
an exquisite feeling thrilled through me and awoke
me from my half dreamy state, something unspeak-
ably sweet and unlike anything I had ever experi-
enced before; I found J. on top of me, cwmilmgus
perftciens — that was her highest pleasure, tandem
mihi non licebat altrum quam osculos dare ad mam>-
ma$ — and with every motion she shook convulsively."

Miss X. acknowledged further that during her
homosexual relations she always assumed the male
attitude towards her womanly companion and that
once, faute de mieux, she allowed one of her male
admirers to perform cuimilmgus on her. (Krafft-
Ebmg, I.e., Obs. 165.)

Let us consider closely the case of an exalted
nature like that girl. She goes through her first
graceful love fever, she is about to become a true
woman, she thinks "him" a princely man, a "ma-
jestic" personality when unexpectedly she undergoes
the experience of witnessing that very God-like man
behave like a common beast. . . . Jealousy and

The Significance of Trawma 297

a revulsion of feeling unite in her at the terrible
sight rousing such a tremendous affect that forever
after she feels an unspeakable horror of all men.

Many women must have become urlinds as a re-
sult of just such experiences. One must also take
into account that among many women homosexual
love shows itself merely in kisses and embraces and
that it seems to them something nobler and much
more esthetic than the manifestations of heterosex-
ual love. Fear of the phallus is something that may
be roused by a relatively slight infantile occurrence.
In her homosexual indulgences Miss X. is not par-
ticularly esthetic by any means, nevertheless even
she remarks : "man is not delicate enough !"

This highly interesting case illustrates the de-
velopment of homosexuality following a trauma
which must have had a tremendous effect upon so
sensitive and romantic a nature as this young
woman and which could not but strengthen the exist-
ing predisposition to homosexuality. But in spite
of all she is still bisexual and I do not think it im-
possible that she should yet overcome her tremen-
dous horror of man. We must consider that the
father was a drinker and that she had probably wit-
nessed in the parental home scenes like the one she
has described. What a pity that the case has not
been analyzed. Traumatic incidents during later
life are particularly powerful in their effect if they
resemble and therefore re-echo infantile memories

298 Bi-Sexual Love

of similar childhood experiences . It may even be
possible that the woman did not actually witness the
scene at the time she states but that she experienced
merely a hallucination, repeating in her mind a scene
which she may have witnessed only during her child-
hood.

A remarkable parallel is furnished by the next
case which I record from among my own observa-
tions :

Miss K. S. is 32 years of age and calls to consult
me about her various compulsions. She confesses
that she is an urlind and that she had never felt her-
self attracted to men. Her father, a heavy drinker,
died three years ago; her mother lives quietly and
is not neurotic.

Our subject has had a number of chances to get
married but she withdraws coyly from every man
the moment one comes close to her. She feels a cer-
tain inclination towards older married men and she
understands in consequence how a woman might be-
come interested in a friend's husband. "When I did
find a man whom I liked, I was unlucky," she de-
clares, "for I discovered that he was already en-
gaged to a friend of mine." Truly she fell in love
only with girls and women. Her first romantic at-
tachment was to a woman school teacher, whom she
also visited at her home. That teacher wanted this
wealthy girl to marry her brother and brought the

The Significance of Trauma 299

two into contact as often as possible. She liked the
brother because he looked so very much like her be-
loved friend. But if the sister was not in the room
their conversation lagged and she could talk only in
monosyllables. She sent flowers and costly gifts to
her teacher. Her supreme desire was to sleep once in
the same bed with that teacher and she often dreamed
of it. She even proposed to take her on a journey.
The teacher could not go and hesitated also because
she found her pupil's attentions too oppressive.
The teacher actually suffered on account of her ad-
mirer's deep jealousy, for the girl turned ill if she
so much as found other girls visiting her. At any
rate, quite a circle of girls in the class admired the
teacher.

Later she fell in love with a girl friend whom she
embraced and kissed warmly numberless times be-
cause it gave her a wonderful warm feeling to do so.
On the other hand the kisses of an uncle made no
impression on her whatever. No man interested
her in the least. For a long time she did not know
that she was homosexual, but she was well aware
since her childhood that she was unlike other chil-
dren. She was always as wild as a boy and her
mother frequently said to her: "there are ten rough
boys in you !" She climbed trees, ran around wildly
and always preferred to play with boys, did not care
for dolls, coaxed to be given a saddle horse and a gun
until her father was driven to despair over her and

300 Bi-Sexual Love

exclaimed sometimes : "you are really a spoiled boy !"
During the analysis she recalled a number of
homosexual and heterosexual experiences. Already
at 12 years of age she had an experience with an
uncle who came to her in bed and played with her.
She could not recall whether they indulged in coitus
that time. With girl friends she also had various
adventures. She confesses in fact that she has been
in the habit of masturbating since her 12th year,
when she was taught by a girl, and that at one time
she often indulged in the phantasy that a man was
having coitus with her. In fact, as late as her 16th
year she fell "heels-over-head" in love with a friend
of her father's. He was much younger than her
father but belonged to the same circle.

While she talks at first only in favorable terms
about her father (his drinking habit was not so very
excessive) and dwells mostly on his lovely qualities,
his mild character, his imposing appearance, etc., at
the same time she begins to show underneath a grow-
ing hatred. The father had in fact left her in
critical circumstances. Every one considered them
millionaires, because her father had kept up a very
big house. After his death it turned out that he
had been spending his capital and that there had
been left practically only her share which was,
however, large enough to permit her and her mother
to live in comfort. Her mother had always en-
dured the life of a martyr. The father had main-

The Significance of Trauma 301

tained relations with the cook in the house during
the last ten years. She was a fat, shapeless vulgar
person. In fact, mother and daughter were just
tolerated in their home. Once her mother en-
deavored to dismiss the cook and the father was mad
and grew almost violent showing her mother the door
threatening that she might leave and take along her
daughter if she did not like it in the house, After
that the cook was naturally more arrogant and un-
bearable than ever so that the poor mother passed
her days weeping until finally she reconciled herself
to that state of things. It was possible to throw
that cook out of the house only after her father
was lying ill in bed. That daring woman started a
law suit claiming that the father had promised to
settle on her a home and an income. . . She lost that
suit because the father testified upon his death-bed
that the woman's contentions were false. The sub-
ject relates a number of other relevant incidents but
does not recall having ever witnessed any intimacies
between her father and the cook.

However, her dreams seem to point in that sense.
Thus, for instance, among others she had the follow-
ing dream:

I go carefully into the kitchen and do not find
the cook there. Then I tiptoe slowly up the back
stairs to the garret and through the key hole I see
the cook ly'mg in bed with the driver.

302 BirSexiwil Love

She recalls that that particular driver was in their
service when the cook was a younger woman and that
her father had dismissed him. He watched for her
father once, as he was coming out of a restaurant to
waylay him. But her father was stronger and threw
the servant to the ground with such force that the
fellow fractured a bone. But she thinks that the
neighborhood did not know the true reason for the
battle, every one naturally thinking that the servant
planned the attack out of revenge.

Finally she confessed to me that there was one ex-
perience of which she had not thought before for a
long time which she must tell me about. She wanted
to tell me about it for some time but an inexplicable
shyness prevented her. She was 16 years of age
when she once heard her father leaving his study
room to steal upstairs to the garret. It was the
maid's day out and her mother was lying down not
feeling well. She took her shoes off and followed
him quietly up the stairs. The door to the ser-
vants' room stood open. The father was somewhat
under the influence of drink and so was also the
cook, who always managed to secure some liquor
for herself on the sly. A candle was burning in the
room and the stairway was dark. She could see
plainly everything that was going on. She now saw
pater membrwm suum in os ancttlce immisit.
The sight of his reddish face now distorted under the
influence of passion was so repulsive to her and

The Significance of Trauma 808

struck her so powerfully that she could never forget
it in her life. Even to this day when she thinks of
it she feels nauseated. (While she is telling the in-
cident she is struggling against the impulse to vomit.)
After that episode she developed a nervous com-
plaint of the stomach, chiefly a nervous vomiting.
Even during the year just passed there were times
when she could not swallow a morsel of meat and she
had attacks of uncontrollable vomiting.

It was after that occurrence that she fell in love
with her teacher. That episode was what had de-
termined the course of her sexual development and
what drove her to homosexuality because it made
her look at all men in the light in which she had seen
her father. Her inclination towards elderly mar-
ried men (always platonic) is also traceable to her
father Imago. She was aiming to find a nobler and
more delicate father.

Whenever a man tried to get closer to her it re-
minded her of the painful incident she had witnessed,
which summed up in her mind all the misery in her
home, the whole outrageous situation, the humilia-
tion of her mother, and her father's morbid passion.
For her father who did have some splendid qualities
and who enjoyed an enviable position in society she
once had as great a love and as deep a respect as for
her noble mother. Then she had to go through the
disastrous situation in the house. That experience
could but serve her as a warning against men, a

304 Bi-Sexual Love

warning and a lesson! It could not but implant
deeply in her soul a lasting dread of man and of
man's terrible passion. She naturally shrank back
from any close contact with man for there was al-
ways a picture before her mind which plainly car-
ried the message: "do not trust any man lest you
should go through what your mother did !"

What might have been the future of this brave
girl if the father had not acted in that way, if the
marriage of the parents had been a happy one, if
she had not witnessed that terrible scene which im-
pressed her the more painfully because she had no
inkling whatever of the brutal side of sexuality?
I make bold to assert that she would have developed
into a quiet pleasant housewife and she would have
given vent to her homosexual tendencies along quiet
and innocent paths. But as it was she devoted her-
self to girls and avoided men more and more. She
did permit herself to be attracted by men. But
they had to be married and unattainable. Thus
there could be no danger for her. When the hus-
band of a friend of hers of whom she also was very
fond declared that for her sake he would be willing
to divorce his wife, she fled and presently found
some other unreachable ideal to which she attached
herself. All her ideals were practically desexual-
ized while her sexuality she exercised exclusively on
women. The love among women loomed up in her
mind as pure and elevating, while the love of men

The Significance of Trawma 305

she considered brutal. Even coitus seemed to her
a disgusting brutal act.

The traumatic incident occurred after puberty
yet it had a very tremendous effect. The question
rises whether the traumas occurring during child-
hood may also influence the particular direction of
sexual development. This question has long since
been solved in harmony with Binet's view and psy-
choanalysis has taught us some additional facts re-
garding the influence of traumas. The narrower
Freudian school has gone so far as to overvalue the
influence of traumas and has designated as traumas
certain relatively trivial experiences which do not
deserve that designation. I want to sound again a
warning against underestimating the role of trau-
mas. Certain minor fetichistic tendencies are
easily and sometimes fairly satisfactorily explained
on that basis, although the more complicated forms
of fetichism, such as we shall study later, are not to
be explained solely upon the theory of traumatic
causation. Here the association hypothesis of Binet
completely breaks down. We must bear in mind that
the neurotics conceive many traumas which in
reality did not occur and that their phantasy turns
innocent incidents into alleged traumas whenever it
suits the trend of their emotions to do so. The
neurotic's memory serves him poorly and that is
also true of the homosexuals who construct a purely
homosexual life history for themselves.

806 Bi-Seomal Love

But are not first impressions of fundamental de-
terminative value for future development? Jean
Paul very appropriately declares : "All first impres-
sions persist forever m the child!"

I wish to add here a couple of observations which
we owe to Bloch and which illustrate very well the
influence of first sexual impressions :

"I was about five years of age when during a walk
accompanied by the nursemaid I saw at some
distance a man in the act of masturbating ; without
knowing what it was, the picture persisted in my
mind for years. In my dreams until my fourteenth
year a playmate occupied the chief role. At thir-
teen years of age I fell in love with a school comrade
who took but little interest in me; what roused my
interest in him in particular was probably the fact
that he was the one who brought to the class in-
formation about sexual matters. We removed to
another City and I lost sight of the boy. Although
I knew nothing specific about sex at the time I sought
contact with those who roused my feelings.

"A stranger, a man of about 35 years of age, en-
ticed me and as soon as he had me he carried on
pederasty with me. I felt that there was something
repulsive in what he was doing, but I was too weak
to oppose myself against his influence. In about
three months he disappeared. Now I knew what

The Significance of Trauma 307

masturbation was especially as there had occurred
a number of orgies at school.

"At eighteen years of age I left school, and while
the others among my comrades began showing an
inclination towards the female sex I found myself
attracted in every way exclusively to man. Often
at the insistence of some of my friends I tried to
come into contact with women of the half world but
every time the attempt filled me only with disgust and
aversion. When I see a woman taking an interest
in me I am filled with a horrible feeling. That was
one more reason why I felt attracted to the male sex.
When I love a man I do not think (only) of sexual
attraction, but I seek to find in him precisely what
I, in turn, feel myself ready to give; exclusive de-
votion, loyalty, tenderness; when I love a man,
everything else pales into insignificance for me."
{Block, I.e., p. 565.)

It would seem that in this instance the memory of
the masturbating man, an incident which the boy
had witnessed during childhood, determined for him
the actual course of his sexual development. In the
previous case the trauma acted as a warning. In
this case it seems to have acted like a perpetual
stimulus, since a child does not possess the usual
moral scruples, and the first excitation (the sight of
the erect organ) must have been tremendous. That
picture stayed in his memory for years* it fixed it-

808 BirSexvml Love

self and persisted permanently in £hat young man's
memory. In the K. S. case, mentioned above, the
trauma was associated with disgust; it served as a
revulsion against heterosexuality. 1

In this particular case the memory of the incident
was associated with desire. It was utilized in
positive form as an inciter to homosexuality. Thus
we find that the problem is rather complicated. I
confess that for some time I was unable to see my
way clear in the midst of these facts so long as I
was one-sided in my views and thought that the con-
dition arises exclusively in one way. But I know
now that a number of paths may lead equally to
homosexuality and that this is a subject which re-
quires a much more thorough study. We must find
out whether psychic factors are invariably at work
behind every case of homosexuality or whether there
is an exclusively psychic and a specially organic
homosexuality. Such cases could be called pseudo-
homosexuality.

1 The following statement of Hirschf eld's illustrates this
point (I.e., p. 315) : "An urning, writer, — urms e multis — writes
me: 'The homosexual inclination developed in me in spite of
the fact that the first sexual aggression was of a hetero-
sexual character — a nursemaid seduced me — in spite of the
fact that through training from childhood on I was taught
to look at the female sex and my reading of literature showed
me that woman was the object of love.' " I add: this tendency
developed because the first sexual experience was associated
with disgust on his part and because the domineering of
woman led him to hate that sex.

The Significance of Trauma 309

As a contribution to this question I find of interest
the following case, reported by Bloch, as the history
reveals the trauma and the bearing of the trauma
upon the development of the condition. It is a case
of male homosexuality:

"From my early childhood I was aware of some-
thing peculiarly girlish in my whole nature out-
wardly as well as inwardly (the latter in particular).
Sexual excitation I experienced also very early. I
was about 6 years of age when I remember that a
private instructor seated himself on the edge of the
bed where I was lying ill with fever, petted me and
then membrum meum tetigit with his hand; the
pleasurable sensation which thus arose was so intense
that I cannot get it out of my mind to this day. At
school where my conduct and studies were always
excellent I indulged occasionally in mutual 'touch-
ing games' with other boys. I do not know on what
side of the family I may have inherited the unusual
intensity of my sexual desire, but I remember that
around my 12th year the flaring up of the instinct
caused me a great deal of unrest and when a comrade
once showed me how to masturbate it proved a wel-
come relief. This 'paradisaic' state did not last
long and when I learned about the dangers and for-
bidden features of my habit I had a terrific and
useless struggle with myself.

"I remember that as far back as my memory goes
I had the habit of gazing at older, vigorous men

810 Bi-Sexual Love

almost involuntarily and with a feeling full of long-
ing, without knowing what it meant. As to mastur-
bation I thought that I fell into the habit because
I had no chance to come into contact with women.
As a matter of fact I did occasionally entertain
friendly relations with certain girls who appeared to
be strongly attached to me; but I always saw to it
that these love excitations were 'nipped m the bud'
because I was afraid I should be unable to carry out
my role to the end. Finally I decided to seek relief
among prostitutes, who were otherwise repellent to
my esthetic and moral sense, but the attempts proved
useless: either I found myself unable to carry out
the normal sexual act at all or if I did it, I ex-
perienced no satisfaction and thereafter I was also
plagued with the fear of infection, I did have rather
frequently the opportunity to enter into amorous
relations with married women but I never did so even
though I inwardly scorned my shyness and my over-
sensitive conscience. Although these facts are true,
I must not omit to mention the chief thing re-
sponsible for the whole situation, namely, the fact
that I am homosexual in my inclination and that the
other sex has hardly any attraction for me.

"I believed myself totally unfit for ordinary sexual
relations when I found one day that the sight of the
membrum virile alone made the blood boil in me with
excitement. I then recalled that this had occasion-
ally happened before, although not to such a re-

The Significance of Trauma 311

markable extent. Secretly I had to face the plain
fact that I was 'not like others.' This fact which
I had previously suspected and of which I grew
more and more convinced, brought me to the brink of
despair.

"Then it happened that a simple little girl fell
deeply in love with me, and I made up my mind to
start relations with her. During the time while this
lasted, a period of several months, my inclination to-
wards thfe male sex persisted though occasionally I
tried to subdue it; but to overcome it completely
was for me, I found, impossible. I was still keep-
ing up my relations with the girl when I once no-
ticed in a public lavatory an elderly gentleman who
appealed to me very strongly ; he scrutinized me
carefully and bent over in order membrwm meum
videre, canfe close by, moved forward his hand shak-
ing with excitement and . . . membrwm meum tet'v-
git. I was so surprised and scared that I ran off
at once and fo.r some time after that I avoided pas-
sing by that place. But my impulsion was the
greater on that account to meet that man again;
this was not at all difficult. . . In this continuous
struggle, so meaningless and so useless, against an
instinct^ which was at least partly inborn in me, I
have squandered mv best energies, although I have
long ago reached the point of realizing that in itself
the instinct is neither morbid, nor sinful." (Bloch,
I.e., P. 545.)

812 Bi-Sexiial Love

Does not this case illustrate clearly the influence
of first impressions and the significance of the bi-
sexual foundation in the homosexual attitude? The
man is seduced by an elderly man and after that he
longs continually to be seduced by an elderly man,
in a manner recalling that unforgettable scene. Al-
though capable of heterosexual acts, this side of his
nature persists as a sort of compulsory tendency
and drives him again into the arms of elderly men to
seek that form gratification which was the first he
had ever experienced in his life. His heterosexual
leanings are repressed. He himself admits that he
always saw to it that all such love affairs were
nipped in the bud. In other words he is deliberately
fighting off all heterosexual stimuli and encourag-
ing the homosexual excitations. Then he arrives at
the realisation that he is not like others. . . In fact
he is bisexual and has the capacity to act as a bi-
sexual being. A careful analysis would have dis-
closed many interesting features. We wanted only
to show how this young man was continually seeking
to find his teacher (father?), and what a great deal
of neurotic overgrowth stood back of this desire.

The next case quoted from Krafft-Ebing is also
very remarkable:

A merchant, 34 years of age, mother neuropathic;
at 9 years of age was taught masturbation by a
schoolmate; also, homosexual relations with a

The Significance of Trauma 313

brother; fellatio; urolagnia; at 14 years of age first
love for a school colleague.

At 17 years of age his love ideal changes com-
pletely. He is no longer attracted by young, beauti-
ful boys, but by decrepit old men.

T. traces this bach to the fact that he had once
overheard his father in the next room uttering
pleasurable exclamations after he retired for the
night and this excited Mm tremendously because he
thought his father was. . . .{weil er sich den Vater
coitierend dachte).

Since that time old men carrying on various homo-
sexual deeds play a predominant role in his dream
pollutions and during masturbation. But even
through the day the sight of an old man is enough to
excite him, especially if the man is very old and de-
crepit when his excitement may be so tremendous as
to end in ejaculation. Attempts at intercourse
with women in houses of prostitution proved unsuc-
cessful and ordinary men and boys do not rouse him.
From the age of 22 years on he carried on a platonic
love towards an old gentleman whom he met on the
latter's daily walks. During these walks T. had
ejaculation. In order to free himself of this pecu-
liar dependence after several unsuccessful attempts
at intercourse with prostitutes he took along with
him a decrepit old man whom he induced to have
coitus before his eyes. The scene so excited him
that he in turn proved potent. Later on he was able

314 Bi-Sexual Love

to dispense with the old man's presence and could
carry out the act successfully without that aid. But
this improvement did not last long; soon he became
impotent once more.

This case is in every way interesting and of great
significance for our problem. It proves to us the
great determinative role of a childish reminiscence
and the persistence of a scene which is continually
repeated in memory. The whole of that young
man's libido is centered around that particular scene.
He stages it also in the brothel when he hires an old
man to have intercourse in his presence. That old
man assumes then the role of the father, the prosti-
tute is the mother, while he is once more the onlook-
ing child. The act of looking on so excites his pas-
sion that with that aid he proves potent in his in-
tercourse with the prostitute. But that continues
only so long as the exciting influence of the scene
persists. After that he reverts to his former im-
potence and he again . . . seeks his father. It is
perfectly plain, and only the blind could fail to see
that T. seeks his father. His wish was obviously
that his father should also start something sexual
with him. It is possible that he had identified him-
self with his mother. But we have no direct proof
of that. This is particularly significant because
Sadger and the others who belong to Freud's nar-
rower circle place great emphasis upon the role of
the mother in the genesis of genuine homosexuality

The Significance of Trauma did

while neglecting ruefully the role of the father.
This case shows us a "Japhet, who seeks his father."
The promenades with the respectable old gentleman
are repetitions of the walks with his father.

This patient does not recall any heterosexual ex-
periences during his youth, probably because the
memory of them has been repressed from conscious-
ness. In the other case which I shall now quote from
Krafft-Ebing the heterosexual period is clearly re-
called. I refer the reader to that author's Obser-
vation 144. Here I quote the first part of the
history of that case:

"I am at the present time 31 years of age, lean yet
well built, devoted to male love, therefore unmar-
ried. My relatives were in good health, mentally
normal, there were two suicides in our family, on
mother's side. My sexual feelings arose when I was
about seven years of age, the sight of the naked
abdomen being particularly exciting. I gratified
my instinct by allowing my sputum to trickle down
the abdomen. When I was eight years old we had
in our house a little nurse maid of about thirteen
years. I found it very pleasurable to rub my geni-
tals against hers, but there could be no coitus on
my part at that time. During the ninth year I
went to live among strangers and went to the gym-
nasium. A colleague showed me his genitals and
that filled me with disgust. But in the family where
my parents arranged for me to board there was a

816 Bi-SenM Love

very beautiful girl who prevailed upon me — I was but
little over nine years old at the time — to sleep with
her. I found the experience most pleasurable. My
penis, though small, was already capable of erection
and I had intercourse with her almost daily. This
continued for several months. Then my parents
transferred me to another gymnasium ; I missed the
girl very much and during my tenth year I began to
masturbate. But the act inspired me only with dis-
gust. I masturbated but moderately, always felt
deeply remorseful afterwards, although I could dis-
cover no bad consequences."

Here is a man who actually felt disgust at the
sight of a friend's genitals and who found inter-
course with women pleasurable. He is excellently
on the way to become a heterosexual. At fourteen he
falls in love with a school colleague, an experience
which every person goes through at about that age,
the "normal," no less than the homosexual. After
the final examination (high school) he has inter-
course with girls and great pleasure in the act, but
he is already making use of some homosexual make-
shifts. Soldiers must precede him in the act of using
the prostitutes and the thought of having access to
a vagina which had just been in contact with another
penis, stimulates him. "At the same time I can
never kiss women without feeling disgust; even my
relatives I kiss only on the cheek." . . . Hmc Ulce
lacrimal He protects himself against the sexual

The Significance of Trauma 817

excitations emanating from his family circle. His
homosexuality is somehow linked to his family. The
peculiar action of a boy who allows sputum to trickle
down his abdomen, imagining that it is spermatic
fluid could probably be traced by means of analysis
to a definite childhood trauma. Particularly clear in
this case is the heterosexual attitude which under cer-
tain influences and inhibitions merges almost imper-
ceptibly into the bisexual and homosexual.

Whether late homosexuality is determined every
time through definite traumatic incidents, I am un-
able to state, because I have not had the opportunity
thoroughly to analyze such a case. The next case
seems to me to show that strong emotionally toned
episodes may turn a latent into manifest homo-
sexuality :

An army officer, 46 years of age, consults me for
complete impotence with women. The impotence is
of four years' duration. He has become acquainted
with a lady of whom he is very fond and who enjoys
an excellent financial status. He could now be a
happy man, if he only were a complete man. Asked
about his morning erections he blushes. The trouble
is not with erections, they do not fail him on other
occasions. He is impotent only in contact with
women. Finally he admits that since his 38th year
he has been carrying on homosexual relations. Since
that time his interest in women gradually vanished

S18 Bi-Sexvkd Love

and he has become impotent. His anamnesis reveals
some significant facts. He recalls no homosexual
deeds or excitations during childhood and before
puberty. He was sexually precocious, masturbated
already during the primary school period and was
attracted by girls. First coitus at seventeen in a
house of prostitution. After that he felt he wanted
women very badly but had no homosexual inclina-
tion. Then a tremendous experience came into his
life which agitated him and after that he was de-
pressed for some time. That was just before his
first homosexual act.

"Can you tell me something about the nature of
that agitation?"

"I find it painful to speak of it."

"But you expect help in a rather difficult situa-
tion. How should I appraise the situation in its true
light if you won't furnish me the necessary informa-
tion?"

"You are right. But there are things of which it
is almost impossible to speak. It is about my mother.
But I suppose I cannot help myself otherwise. I
must tell you all.

"I have always honored and respected my mother.
I was 38 years of age when I received a telegram
calling me to her sick bed. She passed away shortly
after my arrival. As the only son it was my duty to
put everything in order after her. I went through
her old correspondence and in a box I came across

The Significance of Trauma 319

a mass of love letters. First I was not going to read
them. But curiosity got the best of me. I said to
myself: 'every married person loves once in his or
in her life some one else, why should not that be
permitted to my mother when father died while she
was still very young.' If I only had not done that !
I found not one letter, I found hundreds of letters
and . . . they were not all from one man. The
letters were so vulgar, so plain, so cynical, so re-
volting that I wished myself dead. I lost the holiest
thing in my life. Before then I always dreamed of
finding a woman like mother, and her type of woman-
hood always stood before me as the ideal. Now I
found that she could be bought and she was to be
had for ordinary degrading purposes. The tone
which her lovers assumed in those letters was so re-
volting that I imagined the worst. Since then I
feel a deep scorn for all womanhood. Shortly after
that I yielded to the temptations of a homosexual
friend. . . .

"Do you believe that my impotence has some
relation to that occurrence? I have often thought
of it. Whenever I go to a woman I cannot help
thinking of the box in which I found mother's let-
ters. After such an experience how is it possible
for one still to consider marriage?"

A late homosexuality induced by a very tragic
experience. Naturally the man was always latently

320 Bi-Sexual Love

homosexual. But it was that experience which
turned him into a manifest homosexual. Unfortu-
nately I am unable to state whether he married the
woman and became heterosexual again or not, be-
cause I never saw him after that.

The reader will observe that in this chapter I have
quoted quite a number of cases culled from the re-
ports of other practitioners. I do this for a double
reason. First, I want to prove, on the basis of
other material than my own, that homosexuality has
its psychogenesis ; and, in the second place, I aim
by this means to disprove the contention unfortu-
nately rather widespread in some circles and actually
expressed by some critics, that my case histories cor-
respond to the "genius loci." As if the Viennese
differed in sexual matters from the North-German
or from the Englishman! My material is derived
from the world at large. J have been unable to dis-
cover thus far any difference with respect to sexual
matters between any two nations, except that one
may keep things under cover more cleverly than the
other.

This series of cases aiming to illustrate the role
of psychic trauma in sexuality may be concluded
with the following case, reported by Pfister (1. c. p.
169) :

A 28-year-old woman, member of an educational
institution, of high moral repute, is in despair be-

The Significance of Trauma 821

cause she fears she is no longer able to control her
homosexual longings. If she meets a young girl she
is nearly overpowered with the impulse to kiss her
then and there. The unknown girl's face haunts her
for weeks afterwards and she can not sleep tortured
with regret because she did not gratify her impulse
to kiss the girl as she does with her acquaintances.
She is particularly distracted at the thought that
with her tendernesses and attentions, she may mislead
into homosexual counter-affection a fourteen-year-
old girl who is close to her, although nothing out of
the way has happened between them. But the little
friend already trembles with excitement when she is
embraced and her great affection leads her to tears
if she does not see her beloved often enough.

Our homosexual girl had a physically attractive
but otherwise insignificant, nervous father who left
the conduct of his business to the capable hands of
his energetic and intelligent wife. The little daugh-
ter learned early to admire her mother and to look
upon her father as a "light weight." As a small girl
she was normal. She played equally with boys and
girls. With her playmates of both sexes she under-
went various sexual experiences : the girls played the
game of doctor and this gave them an opportunity
to touch the sexual parts, and a small, ailing boy who
was one of the girl's playmates between her seventh
and ninth years, did the same thing. Around the age
of eight years she fell in love with an uncle who had

322 Bi^Sexual Love

the habit of throwing her playfully into the air, a
game which always gave her a very peculiar feeling.
At ten or eleven years of age a 4>0-y ear old house-
keeper abused her repeatedly. Definitely homo-
sexuality broke out when the girl was thirteen. She
was at the time a great deal in the company of a
teacher who resembled her mother in many ways but
who was better educated. That passionate woman
was distinctly homosexual and for two years she
treated the girl with greatest affection. During that
time her passion for kissing developed while the
grossly sexual cravings which the sensuous house-
keeper had roused in her gradually quieted down. A
few love affairs with boys also led to kisses but she
experienced no particular passion in that connection.
Those affairs she took up as a pastime and to be
in fashion rather than because she was interested.

At the boarding school her one-sided erotic in-
clination was further developed in the course of
passionate friendships. At the age of nineteen she
made a couple of heterosexual erotic attempts but
they proved unsuccessful. The first affair was with
a hot-blooded artist of womanly appearance. Her
love was deep, the young girl floated in ideal con-
versations and gladly exchanged kisses with the
young man. After his departure they maintained
a warm correspondence full of tenderness but with-
out giving one another any formal promise.

Five or six weeks after parting from the beloved

The Significance of Trauma

friend she became engaged to a smart young man
because she was in despair and she had given up the
plan of a higher education for herself as she was
not getting along at all well with a relative at home.
She thought she loved her young man but soon after
the engagement she began fearing that she had per-
haps undertaken more than she intended to carry
out. The soft, shy young man apparently resembled
her father. For seven months she played at being in
love, vomitted every morning and wished she were
dead. Finally she gave up her engagement and con-
centrated all her feelings upon members of her own
sex. She maintained however her delicate womanly
sensitiveness throughout and always gave the im-
pression of a girlish creature. So long as she found
homosexual gratification, she took little interests in
a career, or in nature, art and religion ; but as soon
as her inclinations were thwarted, her ideal interests
came strongly to the foreground. She herself com-
pared these vacillations with the movements of a
pair of scales.

When she felt deeply in love she was fairly free
of grossly sexual excitations. But during her love-
less engagement she felt herself sexually roused a
number of times when the young man flayed with her
m a thoroughly respectable manner.

Pfister then relates that the young woman inter-
rupted the analysis just as she was making rapid
progress towards recovery. But he adds a number

Bi-Sexual Love

of interesting details., including her first dream,
which usually contains the nucleus of the neurosis.

The first dream is as follows :

A cat bit me on the left index finger and held on
to it for some time. The finger swelled and burst down
to the bone. The tendon was broken and a great
deal of fluid was oozing out. It meant I shall always
have a stiff finger. I said to myself: "What a pity!
Now I won't be able ever to play the piano again."

I woke up and found my finger so fast asleep that
I could not move it.

Just before the dream the girl in her despair had
offered a fervent prayer which made her feel a little
easier. Before the analysis the girl was extremely
restless and longed for her beloved, but she said to
herself that she would only bring misfortune upon
that poor girl's head.

The analysis of this dream, which Pfister unfortu-
nately, did not carry out with complete success,
shows that her whole emotional life is governed by
the infantile experience with that housekeeper. The
first recollection brought up by the free associa-
tions with this dream relate to the housekeeper, who
in the dream is represented by the cat.

I have discussed elsewhere in a lengthy contribu-
tion, the Representation of the Neurosis m Dreams. 1

1 Die DarstelUing der Neurose in Trcmme. Zentralblatt f.
Psychoanalyse, vol. Ill, p. 26.

The Significance of Trauma 325

In this dream the trouble is symbolized by a stiff
finger. "Playing the piano" is again a symbol
for sexual intercourse as well as for masturbation.
Probably the symbol here has acquired its emotional
coloring from the masturbation habit. But the het-
erosexual meaning is also obvious (piano playing —
coitus) . If we interpret the dream we have :

The housekeeper, that false cat who played a de-
pendent role towards my parents, made me ill with
her long-continued tendernesses (A cat bit me on
the left index finger and held on for a long time).
The trouble grew worse, something valuable tore
in me (the ability to love a man) and the homosexual
form of love established itself permanently (stiffen-
ing). Now I am incapable of loving a man, I cannot
be a mother or raise a family of my own, — a wish that
has already cost me so many tears (the water flow-
ing out of the wound).

Perhaps this interpretation will be doubted as
something artificial and rather forced. But the sub-
ject recalls further details of the dream and relates
them subsequently. Such additions are of extra-
ordinary significance because usually they contain
the censured, the repressed material. She recalls
that the cat was going to bite her at first on the
foot (significant because of the proximity of the
sexual parts). Further on she relates a continua-
tion of the dream:

326 Bi-Sexual Love

The water flowed down the steps. I ran to a
friendly woman physician for aid to my wound. On
the way I met her unexpectedly in the neighborhood
of a merry-go-round. Then my sister speaks up say-
ing: "She will fix your finger in good shape right
away." The woman physician retorts: "I am sorry,
but I do not operate." She sends me instead to a
surgeon {male).

The interpretation is not difficult. There is a
great deal of weeping. Her tears inundate her whole
soul (House as symbol of soul). At first she is look-
ing for a woman healer. A woman shall cure her
trouble. Life is a merry-go-round, everything in
life revolves, she may yet be happy. But the woman
physician gave her the correct answer. You need a
surgeon. Only a man can heal thee. I do not oper-
ate. I am not the one to awaken your femininity
(defloration?).

A further supplementary account shows that the
finger became the muzzle of a repeating revolver.
Pfister's interpretation that this is a phallic symbol
and that it shows the dreamer's phantasy that she
was a male with a phallus, may be correct. Every
homosexual woman has the wish to transpose the
psychic state into an actual physical condition. But
another possible meaning of the repeating fire arm
seems to me more plausible. The subject's traumatic
incident had the effect of facilitating subsequently

The Significance of Trauma 82T

other homosexual experiences. The traumatic experi-
ence required repetition.

I pass over for the present the other meanings of
the dream (over-determination), which Pfister dis-
closes with keen insight. I am concerned here merely
with pointing out the determining influence of a
trauma. Naturally there are other factors at work
along with the traumatic incident, it would be neces-
sary to find out why the incident influenced her in
that particular manner, the precise constellation of
her family circle ought to be taken into considera-
tion, etc. But the dream points so clearly to the
cause of the psychic trauma that the cross section
it furnishes enables us to reconstruct the whole pic-
ture of her trouble.

The case is convincing also from another stand-
point. The subject gave up early her psychoanalysis
because she felt in a short time that she was well.
These apparent cures which serve to circumvent the
danger of a thorough psychoanalysis, are well known
occurrences. The subject is unwilling to acknowledge
that she is also heterosexually predisposed, that her
whole longing, in fact, is directed towards the fulfil-
ment of motherhood. The dream says plainly: "1
want to be a woman, like all other women, I want
to bear children! Save me from the danger of homo-
sexuality!"

But her consciousness is unprepared to acknowl-

328 Bi-Sexual Love

edge this desire. She meets difficulties upon the het-
erosexual path. Pflster believes that she identified
herself with her father. In that sense the kissing
episodes (with girls) signify: I let father (who was
a very handsome and well appearing man) kiss me!
But her mother was also in the habit of kissing her
with great show of affection. It appears thus that
the most varied forces were at work to determine
the fixation (stiffening) of her emotional attitude.

In fact homosexuality does resemble ankylosis.
The free operation of sexuality appears to be re-
stricted, a single point is fixed and every movement
takes place thereafter only within the range of that
point of fixation.

Is it possible for psychoanalysis to loosen up
such psychic ankyloses and to free once more the
bound-down energies? In this particular case can
psychoanalysis remove the fear of man and the
woman's doubt whether she can fill a woman's role?
How far reaching are the possibilities of psychic
orthopedics in the case of homosexuals?

I must ask the reader to follow me patiently
through the complex inquiries which follow before
attempting to answer these questions.

VII

Erotism and Sexuality — The Motive Power of Un-
fulfilled Wishes— The Male Protest— The Re-
lations of the Homosexual to his Mother —
Hirschfeld's Schematic Outline — Infantile Im-
pressions — Influence of the Stronger Parent —
Letter of an Expert.

Die Knabenliebe ist so alt me die Menschheit wad

man honnte daher sagen sie liege m der Natur, ob

tie gleich gegen die Natur sei*

Goethe.

vn

Boy love is as old as the race and therefore it may
be said to be part of nature, although against nature.

Goethe.

Investigators interested in the problem of homo-
sexuality point out that the condition occurs in
families and see therein a support for the contention
that this condition is inborn. Homosexuals usually
have a homosexual brother or sister, or one or the
other of their parents is similarly afflicted, in spite
of marriage. But if we think of neurosis and of
homosexuality (which is a particular form of neu-
rosis) as a retrogression, if we bear in mind that all
neurotics show a marked overemphasis of sexual
traits, the reason for these facts is plain. What is
inherited is not the homosexuality but the powerful
bisexual disposition which leads to morbid tendencies.
Furthermore we must bear in mind that the influence
of family life is practically the same for all children.
Yet- one child escapes lasting injury while another
is tremendously handicapped.

Before looking more closely into the influence of
family life upon the development of homosexuality

331

332 Bi-Sexual Love

we must point out two very significant considera-
tions.

One of these is the division of all love into spiritual
and physical; the next point is the double attitude
of every homosexual as male and female. For the
present I need only emphasize the fact that persons
readily adjust themselves so that one sexual com-
ponent is expressed on the spiritual, the other upon
the physical plane. Let us call spiritual love, "erot-
ism," and physical love, "sexuality." The average
homosexual applies his erotism to male friendships
and his sexuality he places in the service of hetero-
sexual love ; the progress of culture consists therein
that heterosexual love is also gradually sublimated,
that is, turned more and more into erotism. The
homosexual, for instance, turns his erotism towards
women, and applies his sexuality in his relation with
men. But at times he may turn his whole erotism
into the homosexual channel and suppress his whole
sexuality. Or he may endeavor to find certain spirit-
ual qualities in his sexual ideal, trying to turn also
part of his erotism into the homosexual path. Thus
we meet most remarkable variations. For an ex-
ample we may mention the homosexual who is inter-
ested only in coachmen, soldiers, servants and peas-
ants. His sexual ideal he finds only among the lower
orders. Such a man has turned his whole erotism
towards women. He seeks the friendship of mature
women, sometimes also the company of fine men,

The Role of the Family: The Mother 333

but sexually he can be active only in contact with
men of low order.

This peculiarity already indicates a judgment-
attitude in sexual matters. Sexuality is perceived as
degrading, as compelling a return to the first aspects
of "natural" life. The attitude is further compli-
cated by the homosexual's overemphasis of one or
the other sex during his acts. If he is an active
homosexual he preserves his individuality, identify-
ing his selfhood with some male ideal, the father, the
brother, the teacher, etc. On the other hand, if he
plays a passive role, he identifies himself with a wo-
man, the mother, or her polar obverse, the prostitute.
Occasionally he carries on both roles and the rela-
tions between sexuality and erotism become reversed
and transposed. That is what complicates the prob-
lem so tremendously. The urning transfers his
erotism to men and his sexuality is roused in relation
with women only, but the latter is soon turned into
disgust. Or the urlind loves spiritually only women
and finds all men repulsive, unbearable and disgust-
ing.

In order to acquire a psychologic insight into
every case as it presents itself, and to judge of its
significance, it is necessary to answer the question:
what does the homosexual aim to accomplish with
his actions? What does the homosexual act repre-
sent in the subject's fancy. In most cases of this
character reality does not enter into consideration.

334 Bi-Sexual Love

Some obscure and baffling paraphilias lose their
extraordinary character once we get at the specific
act which the subject repeats vicariously through his
overt action. For Nietzsche's law of the eternal re-
turn of sameness applies to the neurotic.

The acts which the neurotic carries out are either
something experienced or something wished, some un-
reached yearning. It is part of human nature that
the unattained experience exercises a stronger driv-
ing power than what has been experienced. Ex-
perience acts as a retrospective tendency, craving
is prospective. (One might say, therefore: the most
severe traumas are those which have never been ex-
perienced.) \ The unsatisfied craving is the motive
power of most neuroses. The "world pain" of all
those who are weary of life and who struggle in vain
to accomplish the impossible is due to the eternal
craving, the eternally Lost, the perennially Unreach-
able. All the dream fancies of the neurotic are
shattered in contact with reality. For that reason
the neurotic overlooks the world's standards and
builds a world of his own, wherein he is master and
attains all his wishes as dreams. The unattamed
experiences furnish the material for perennial
dreams.

The formation of man's character traits begins
during the first years of life. He tests his powers
upon the surroundings and his environment furnish
him the picture of life. In the eyes of children who

The Role of the Family: The Mother 335

are not self-reliant the father must be a giant be-
cause he overawes them with his genial appearance
and his image generates in their soul a feeling of
inferiority which marks them for life. Every child
has an ambition : to excel his father. This wish may
express itself first in the desire to attain father's
size, to be as strong and big as he. But later the
wish shows itself in that quiet but determined com-
petitive struggle which has always existed between
father and son, or mother and daughter. The strong
son takes after the powerful father. But suppose
the father is weak and the mother is the one who
dominates the house? What sort of picture of life
becomes imprinted upon the child's mind under the
circumstances? Can it help believing that women
dominate the world, can he escape taking the attitude
either of wishing to be a woman and rule, or of flee-
ing from woman when she clashes with his "will to
power" as man?

In the conflict that follows, sexuality becomes
mixed up with erotism, the soul of the child is be-
wildered, a definite outcome is delayed and meanwhile
the child's soul is filled with anxiety and doubt.

Alfred Adler, who has followed this line of inquiry
with great keenness, has conceived it an important
factor in the dynamics of the neuroses and he has
described this picture as "the male protest." All re-
actions and protective constructions or fictions of

336 Bi-Sexual Love

the neurotic, according to him, lead back to the
desire to be "a complete man." Homosexuality dis-
plays this protest under a peculiarly cryptic form.
The homosexual cries out: I want to be a woman!
He may even go so far as to dress himself like a
woman and become a transvestite, Adler here gives a
far fetched explanation, saying: this is a male pro-
test under the use of female means! He holds that
the homosexual attempts to heighten by this means
his feeling of personality ; the latter turns away from
woman because he fears his inferiority, he avoids
decisions. That is true of some aspects but not of
the whole picture. The problem of homosexuality as
a whole shows Adler's position to be untenable. .\

The important thing is that the.e arises its the
child's soul a wish which gravitates in the direction
of the parallelogram of forces exhibited within the
family circle. If the mother plays the upper role,
the wish becomes : I shoidd like to be like mother! I
should like to dominate and rule as she does! Love
for the mother increases this tendency to become
identified with her and turns it into a directive ideal.
The child begins at a tender age to imitate its mother,
acts womanly, wants to play with dolls and cook,
wears gladly girls' clothes. The child may overcome
these tendencies or it may grow up with them or
return to them later and become a pronounced homo-
sexual. (Late Homosexuality.)

For the sake of simplicity I am now speaking of

The Role of the Family: The Mother 387

boys. The same effect may be brought about when a
brutal father trods down the mother, the child sees
its mother suffer and comes to look upon his father
as an abhorrent example. Under such circumstances
the child's "will to power" may turn into "ethical
will." The child's wish then is: / would not rule
and be like father; I would rather be like mother!
If the child loves his tyrannical father he may be-
come homosexual and passive : a woman and a strong
man.

These are a few examples taken at random from
life. I have brought them out, because one often
hears that homosexuals have had an energetic mother,
and a father who played a submissive role. Of
course, the contrary may also be the case. Fre-
quently we hear that the mother was strongly neu-
rotic. . . . There are no definite rules in the psycho-
genesis of hoiuosexualitj'. T'ach case requires an
.Individual solution. That is why Sadger's state-
ments on the subject cannot be taken as absolute
axioms. Every third case or so disproves his no-
tions.

Many paths Itfad to homosexuality. It would be
impossible to describe all. We can only get at a
few typical examples.

We turn our attention now to the important ques-
tion: what is the attitude of the neurotic towards
his mother? We have seen that psychoanalysts cor-
relate homosexuality to the repressed love for the

338 Bi-Sexual Love

mother. Let us give a glimpse at my few statistical
data. The question : "Are you specially fond of your
mother or your father? Or are you partial to some
brother or sister?" was answered by my 20 homo-
sexuals as follows:

"Only of mother — mother — no particular prefer-
ence — both alike — mother — father — no preference —
on the whole, more fond of mother — love the whole
family passionately — father' — mother — my father
mother — mother — mother — mother — specially fond
of a brother (indifferent to all the others) — father 1 —
mother."

Approximately one-half confess a greater fond-
ness for the mother. I have mentioned the prefer-
ences in these cases because in one of them, at least,
I am able positively to prove that back of love for
the mother is hidden really a powerful aversion
against the father; another subject had failed to
mention his fondness for his sister which played a
tremendous role in the development of his homo-
sexuality. Such a statistical inquiry really requires
documentation through psychoanalysis. But even
on the face of the statistical figures we find a certain
percentage of cases showing a greater fondness for
the mother. This is also true of some of the cases
in which the predominant love had been declared in
favor of the father.

Hirschfeld holds that the attachment of the urning
to his mother is a common occurrence. He states :

The Role of the Family: The Mother 839

"The homosexual is attracted to one woman with
particular tenderness; this is Ms mother; and here
we also find the analogy of a particularly intimate
relationship between the urning daughter and her
father. The homosexual's attachment to his mother
is so typical, that the Freudian school has described
this mother-complex as the cause of homosexuality.
J hold this deduction for a false one. The homo-
sexual does not become an urning because he was so
passionately attached to his mother as a child; on
the contrary, he leans towards the mother instinc-
tively rather than knowingly, at first, this being the
direction of his weakness and peculiarity and often
his mother, also instinctively, makes him her favorite
child. ..."

This conclusion of Hirschf eld's I find myself un-
able to accept. The urning is often the mother's
favorite child before his birth. The child responds
with the most tender love for his mother with whom
he identifies himself in the end. Sometimes the mother
wishes a girl and brings up her boy as one. I know
one urning who was never dressed in pantelets by his
mother, who was always kept by her side and whose
mother was in the habit of folding his external
genital over with his skin, saying: you are a girll
Even as a grown up boy he was frequently put in
girl's clothes and he preserved for some time a ten-
dency to transvestism.

Undoubtedly there are many cases, in which direct

340 Bi-SexUal Love

love for the mother has absorbed all love for the
female sex.

One urning, for instance, as quoted by Hirsch-
feld, states:

"My mother was everything to me, she was my one
best friend, the alpha and omega of my existence. I
had built many pretty plans for her, desiring to
make her comfortable in her old age. . . . Then,
there came the terrible catastrophe, which nearly
wiped out my whole existence, death robbed me of
my much-beloved mother. The report of her illness,
which made me fear the worst, found me in the North
of Ireland and the tortures which I endured during
the twp days and two nights that it took me to reach
home, could not be described in mere words. On the
train folks avoided me suspecting that I was insane.
. . . For three weary weeks I took care of my mother
day and night, then God took her from me, and I
remained a lonely wanderer, broken in mind and
body. It was a blow from which I could never
recover. In the endeavor to forget I returned to my
England to take up my former work but it was use-
less. Forget I could not, day and night I was a prey
to mental and physical suffering. I could not stand
it any longer. So I returned to the old home where
my people had lived for 100 years. Sometimes I
was nearly insane and felt a little more quiet only
when visiting the cemetery and hovering around my

The Role of the Family: The Mother 341

parents' resting place. Unable to find peace I de-
cided to travel. In the churches and cathedrals of
every City and in the chapels of every village through
which I passed I prayed to God for the soul of my
beloved mother. The gnawing anguish in my heart
over the death of my beloved mother had shattered
my nerves all to pieces. ... I felt myself paralyzed
on account of my deep depression, I could no longer
think, I fell into melancholy although I sometimes
tried to rouse myself. I abandoned all correspond-
ence because no one could write me a consoling word.
When the world which existed between mother and
myself shattered, life ceased to have any interest
for me."

The relationship of the urlind to the father and
of the urning to the mother Hirschfeld summarizes
in the following table:

I. Urnmg boy Urlind girl

Prefers girls' games, Prefers boys' games,
avoids characteristic dislikes handwork, con-
boys' games, has many fections, is 'boy-like' in
girlish features in his behavior, in acts and,
character and behavior, often, in appearance. Re-
Sometimes also in his ap- mark: "She is like a
pearance. Observers re- boy!"
mark: "He is like a girl."

34$ Bi-Sexual Love

II. Attitude towards the other sex

Prefers the company Preferably plays rough

of girls. games with boys.

Emotional fixation on Attachment greater to

the mother. father.

III. Attitude towards own sex (as erotically
colored in the unconscious)

Instinctively inhibited Greater bashfulness in

and bashful in relation the presence of girls,

to boys. Similarly attached in

Dreamy attachment to dreams to some female

teacher or some school person — teacherorschool

mate. , mate.

The powerful influence of the mother in bringing
up the child is illustrated by the following passage
from one history :

"A young lieutenant relates: as soon as I was
out of the school room I used to rush to my girl
friends. My mother was fond of taking me along
when she went shopping and always asked me how
I liked this thing and that, before making a pur-
chase. For every new hat which mother bought I
served as a model, that is, every hat was tried on
my head, and mother purchased for herself the hat
that looked best when tried on me. 'You look like
a little girl,' mother often would say to me while

The Role of the Family: The Mother 343

the hats were tried on, 'too bad, that you are not a
real girl!'" {Hirschfeld, 1. c, p. 113.)

The expression, "too bad, you are not a real girl,"
shows how the mother influenced the child's soul at
a time when it is so very plastic. But Hirschfeld
maintains that the conditions were reversed ; that the
parents had suspected the child's homosexual inclin-
ation and treated it accordingly:

"Often the disposition towards homosexuality is
fostered in children by their elders who treat them
according to that leaning. The fathers feel specially
attracted to the urning daughters — the mothers
fondly give their urning boys girlish tasks about the
house. The feminine and the virile peculiarities are
not brought out through training at first ; the mother
would not expect girlish tasks of a boy who was not
in the first place inclined that way. When Krafft-
Ebing relates in his description of the case of the
Countess Sarolta Vay: 'it was her father's whim to
bring up S. as a boy; he let her ride, drive, hunt,
admired her virile energy, called her Sandor. On
the other hand this foolish parent allowed his second
son to be dressed like a girl and to be brought up
very much like one' — we must credit the father with
the intention of meeting deliberately an outspoken
tendency on the part of his children." {Hirschfeld,
1. c, p. 112.)

Naturally when one explains everything so arbi-
trarily and tries to interpret in the parent's favor,

344 Bi-Sexual Love

suggesting that the father displayed great psychic
insight, anything may be proven.

But when one looks with open eyes at this ob-
servation and at another case of Hirschf eld's, — an
important contribution because it illustrates the
whole inner condition of the homosexual, — it is not
difficult to draw one's own conclusions. One urning
relates about his mother :

"In the midst of his worries he was suddenly em-
braced and kissed — his mother held him tightly in
her arms ; she drew his little face to her cheek and
their tears mingled while she consoled him until
his eyes again mirrored a smile. These were unfor-
gettable experiences in the life of the homosexual
child. He felt that his mother was his truest friend,
and in his grateful heart he planned to recompense
her above all other mothers. His whole life and hope
was centered in her; it was for her sake that he
was willing to prepare his school lessons, and be-
cause of her he avoided arousing his father's wrath;
he did not want her to be scolded on his account. To
make her happy was his ambition in life. Because
she was not happy, he felt as if it were his fault
and with redoubled tenderness he clung to her, the
quiet sufferer.

"He reached 16 years of age, he became sexually
ripe and a perplexing unrest troubled him. His
comrades told him about their gallant adventures.
But he remained unresponsive to everything that

The Role of the Family: The Mother 345

seemed to make them so happy. On the contrary, he
was terribly distressed when his best friend 'be-
trayed' him in favor of a girl. He began to be
aware of his peculiarity and the terrible thought that
he must hide his awful feelings made him tremble.
He tried very hard to turn into the right path. But
he could not live at home while harboring his secret ;
his mother, whom he loved above all else, he wanted
to spare ; he felt he had to leave ; so he abandoned his
home and went into the world trying to direct
properly his sexual feelings. While away he received
most tender messages from his mother to whom he
wrote as to a beloved. After an absence of two years
he returned home. From that time on his life de-
veloped under the eyes of his mother, in whom he
saw the highest quintessence of all womanhood. His
relations with women were marked by timidity. He
adored them and felt he would like to serve them.
He became early their confessor for his womanly soul
made him their natural comrade. But in the midst
of all he was very unhappy, his feelings for them
never turned into physical love — the sexual attrac-
tion was absent." (Hirschfeld, 1. c, p. 105.)

This urning actually confessed, in lus own words,
that in his mother he saw the quintessence of all
womanhood. The condition is obvious. Every
woman represents the mother, in part. At first I
had occasion to observe cases of this kind and that
is how I came to the hasty conclusion that every

346 Bi-Sexual Love

homosexual is emotionally fixed upon his mother and
avoids women because his inhibition towards them is
due to the mother Imago which he carries within
him. 1

Another observation of Hirschfeld's seems to me
of very great interest:

"The great attachment of homosexuals to their
mother as pointed out by Sadger and other follow-
ers of Freud is really a fact and holds true of nearly
all homosexuals, the attachment reaching far back
into their own childhood and extending over the
mother's whole life. We have seen that many who
lost their mother at an advanced age, for a long
time were unable to recover from the blow. But it
seems more proper not to look upon this great at-
tachment to the mother as the cause of homosexual-
ity, but as a consequence thereof. Aside from this
more feminine nature, absence of a home of his
own keeps the homosexual for a longer time than
usual close to his mother, especially when she pos-
sesses a more pronounced personality, which is rather
not unusual where the children are homosexual.

*In a novel which is an autobiography and a confession at
the same time, the hero relates that during his first visit to
the brothel he had to think of his mother. (Erlebnisse des
Zoeglings Taxil. Wiener Verlag.) This book is interesting also
because it describes accurately the homosexual practices in a
school of cadets. The fact that young boys are impelled to
think of their mother when visiting the brothel for the first
time is often the cause of total impotence. Cf. Weininger:
Gescklecht u. Charakter, chapter: Mutter w. Dime. The work
has been translated into English.

The Role of the Family: The Mother 347

Urnings who contract marriage are not wound up
emotionally in their mother quite to such an extent
and often their love is transferred to their wife."
{Hirschfeld, 1. c, p. 344.)

With these words and the admission of the trans-
ference of the love for the mother to some other
female person Hirschfeld recognizes the possibility
of healing the condition, which is the psychoanalyst's
task. But I must warn against any tendency to
solve the problem of homosexuality on the basis of
any single finding.

In the first place I must point out that the his-
tory of these cases discloses two types of mother-
hood: the strong mother and the weak mother. Both
types are common and either or both may determine
the growth of the child. Hirschfeld states that the
urning becomes readily attached to the mother who is
strong. This corresponds with my practical observa-
tions and shows one type of homosexuality which I
shall presently describe. The strong mother domi-
nates a weak child throughout his life, he never
escapes her and she determines his relations to other
women.

It will be of interest to record on this question the
opinion of a man who is looked upon as the spiritual
leader of the homosexual circle in a cosmopolitan
city, a man who has organized them and who has had
considerable experience. This gentleman writes me:

348 Bi-Sexual Love

"My Dear Doctor:

"In conformity with your wish I am sending you
herewith a number of life histories.

"First I wish to report to you the result of a
questionnaire ; I have reached with the questionnaire
800 persons. It is noteworthy that none of them
knew that the answer to the question was of any
particular interest to me, for the question and the
answer came up unobtrusively in the course of ordi-
nary conversation. This disposes of the criticism
sometimes heard in medical circles that the answers
to interrogatories are of little or no worth because
the respondents unconsciously report things in a
manner to favor themselves if they do not deliberately
tell falsehoods with that end in view.

"Among the 800 persons interrogated 65% stated
that the mother was unusually energetic and self-
reliant, while the father was mild and easy going,
as well as diffident and easily influenced.

"In my opinion these 65% represent the hereditary
cases ; there may be some also among the other 35 fo
due to hereditary transmission but this, of course,
I am unable to ascertain and it would be interesting
to conduct a medical inquiry into the subject.

"In favor of a hereditary predisposition as the
most general factor stands also the fact that in many
families the homosexual's sisters or brothers show
a similar tendency."

The Role of the Family: The Mother 349

Illustrations

U. Sch., 26 years of age, a merchant. The mother
extraordinarily self-reliant and the one who deter-
mines the course of action in every family emer-
gency. Father good-natured fellow, easily influenced.
U. Sch. has been several years ago under the care
of Prof. Pilz. At the time he had some intercourse
with women, but the act always caused him disgust
and did not diminish his need to get into contact
with men. At first he tried to oppose this leaning
towards men, but after two months of struggle —
during which he lost considerable weight — he had to
give in again and today he maintains relations ex-
clusively with men. His brother, six years younger
than he, is an actor and is also homosexual. An
older brother, also a merchant, is completely normal
in his sexual life, but far from self reliant and very
moody. His sister is also heterosexual, but has male
traits and physical features, hairy growth on the
face and a bass voice which would be considered
very low even in a man.

Count X., 25 years old; a very energetic mother.
His gait and movements are exceedingly feminine,
he is careless and has been mixed up already in a
number of unpleasant affairs from which the writer
successfully helped him extricate himself. Two of
his three brothers are also homosexual, and of his
family circle in the wider sense, two uncles.

850 BirSexUal Love

Karl W., 28 years of age, bank clerk. For the
past six years has maintained relations with his older
colleagues. He is very strikingly feminine and
anxiety appears to lend zest to life in his case. He
is continually living in dread lest some one in his
family should find out about his peculiar inclination,
although he is a stranger here and has no relative
living nearby. But if he has no reason to fear any-
thing on this score he finds some other reason to
keep his mind in torment. For instance, he fears he
will be run over by an automobile, even when he strolls
along the safe side of a side walk, etc. As he is other-
wise mentally normal I conclude that he has a strong
masochistic tendency which he satisfies thus by con-
juring up absurd fears. There is no expression of
the masochistic tendency in any overt acts. On the
other hand K. has relations only with persons be-
longing to the lowest social stratum (plasterers,
drivers, etc.) and it is probable that the greater
danger in that connection serves as a stimulant for
him.

His mother is normal, but a very energetic
woman, always taking care of her own affairs and
when a couple of thieves once broke in at her home
she grappled with them, threw them to the ground
and held them. She has married a second time, has a
slight downy beard growth, and in her house often
puts on male clothing.

The Role of the Family: The Mother 351

We need not be surprised that the expert empha-
sizes the fact that in many instances homosexuality
occurs in groups in the same family. The same con-
ditions bring about similar effects. Even the fact
that 65 °/o of homosexuals have a very energetic
mother need not be in itself of any particular sig-
nificance as typical of the psychogenesis of homo-
sexuality. The expert really means that these are
mannish women so that they naturally bring into the
world womanly boys.

INDEX

Abstinence^ 249

XdusSTW"

Act, specific, 334

Acquired, 245

Adler, 273, 335

Adspectu sanguinis curreniis,
295

Affect, 274

Aggression, 59, 73, 85, 150,
176, 250

Ahasuerus type, 163, 164

Alcoholism, 248 passim, 255,
261, 269, 271, 274, 285, 288

"All gone" feeling, 136

Allerotism, 53 passim, 277

Ambition, 344

Amnesia, 143

Anal irritation, 189

Analysis, vid. Psychoanalysis

"Analytic scotoma," 248

Androgyny, 24

Anesthesia, sexual, 76, 163

Anger, 133

Antifetichism, 102, 118

Anxiety, 23, 40, 68, 96, 121,
140, 153, 196, 201, 213, 242,
283

Aphrodisiac, 261

Ascetic ideal, 176

Asceticism, 226

Attitude (neurotic), 146, 148,
188, 209, 212, 217, 337 pas-
sim, 342

Attraction (sexual), 345

Autoerotism, vid. Masturba-
tion

Aversion, 201, 253, 304
Azoospermia, 24

Bashfulness, 342
Belief in devil, 220
Bestiality, 295, 304
Binet, 41, 42, 305
Bipolar attitude, 208, 221
Bipolarity, 272
Birthplace symbolism, 207
Bisexuality, 27, 28, 34, 40, 41,

49, 54, 68, 69, 79, 120, 161,

185, 213, 255, 261, 268, 289,

312, 317
Block, 22, 26, 30, 33, 34, 99,

100, 273, 280, 281, 283, 291,

306, 309
BIMher, H., 26, 28, 79
Boy love, 331
Brain, 31

Brother, 148, 149, 188
Brutality, 337
Burchard, 12

Cassanova type, 66, 98, 111,

124
Ohamisso, 65
Character, 335
Chevalier, 41
Childhood, 27, 47, 172, 208,

245, 305, 308, 317
Children, bisexuality of, 61
Choice of lovers, 104
Climacterium (male), 87, 90
Clothing, 80
Complex, 210, 248

353

Index

Compromise, 59, 80, 94, 243
Compulsion, 19, 68, 90, 91,

111, 117, 298
Compulsory tendency, 312
Compulsory thought, 152
"Conditioned reflex," 35
Confession, 236, 258
Conflict, 242, 335
Consciousness, 213, 224
Consolation, 234
Constellation, psychic, 191
Constellation, sexual, 227
Contact, incestuous, 268
Contempt, 103
Contrary feeling, 19, 264
Conquest, 182
Copropbilia, 160
Copulatio emails, 167, 282
Corpora cavernosa, 131
Cousin, 187

Cravings, 39, 43 passim, 46,
49, 66, 149, 151, 170, 191,
201, 222, 257, 268, 291, 327,
334
Criminality, 43, 64, 263
Crisis, 143, 238
"Critical period" vid. Climac-
terium (male)
Cryptic, vid. Masks
Culture, 33, 44, 45, 332
Cunnilingus, 165, 167, 172, 264,

266
Curiosity, 319

Danger, 159
Death symbol, 211
Deckerrinerung, 157
Defence, 160, 214, 226, 237,

260, 270, 300, T34
Degeneration, 16, 18, 29
Depression, 141, 188, 224, 341
Desexualization, 271, 304
Desire, 274, 291, 308, 328
Dessoir, M., 30, 34, 54
Deutsch, H., 251, 253
Deviation, 29

Diagnosis, 25, 26, 170
Differentiation, sexual, 20
Dipsomania vid. Alcoholism
Disgust, 102, 121, 144, 201,

225, 243, 274, 281 passim,

286, 305, 315
Dislike, 280, 293
Dissolution (of transference),

153
Distortion, 210
Don Juan type, 90, 97, 98, 104,

111, 116, 124, 163, 175, 179,

190, 225
Doubt, 59
Dread, vid. Pear
Dream, 61, 77, 110, 144, 160,

169, 185, 189, 193, 202, 214,

219, 231, 237, 260, 270, 300,

334
Drink, vid. Alcoholism
Drug addiction, 268
Dyspareunia, 164

Ecstasy, 130
Eichendorf, 171
Ejaculatio, 146
Energy, sexual, 56, 176
Environment, 13, 29
Epilepsy, 48
Erection, 130, 131
Eroticism, 272, 332, 333
"Eternal seekers," 164
"Ethical" will, 337
Etiology, 15, 42
Eulenburg, 281
Eunuchoid, 24
Euripides, 273
Excess of morality, 218
Excitement, 167
Experience, 241, 334, 344
Exposition of Ps.-A. (in
dream), 211

Factors, psychic, 35, 42
Falsehood, 27
Family life, 331

Index

Fancies, 147, 14,9, 224, 270
Father, 148, 303, 335
Faust, 163, 164
Fear of immoral deed, 198

marriage, 323

sexual partner, 273

syphilis, 95

tuberculosis, 91

woman, 272
Feeling, 25, 315
Fellatio, 153, 313
Fetichism, 243, 305
Fiction, neurotic, 335
Fire symbolism, 211
First impressions, 306, 312
Fixation, 54, 110, 191, 217,

224, 225, 328
Flagellation, 266, 267
Fleischmarm, 12, 268, 284

FT%G88 X4

Flight, 90, 181, 191, 209, 235
Forepleasure, 56
Form of intercourse, 63
Foot fetichism, 111
"Flying Dutchman," 100, 163,

164
Freedom, 237
Freimark, H„ 222, 243
Frenssen, 64
Freud, 8., 28, 39, 42, 53, 56,

57, 90, 209, 227, 236, 314,

346
Friendship, 272, 332
Frigidity, 74
Fuohs, A., 12

Gastric disorder, 192, 215
Genetic factors, 246
Genital glands, 31
"Genuine" Don Juan, 218

Homosexual, 260
Gerontophilia, 61, 107, 224
Grandeur, 159
Gratification, 90, 107

"without guilt," 212

"Great historic mission," 163

Greeks, 40

Grillparzer, 80

Gonorrhea, 142, 168, 282, 286,

288
Gynandry, 24

Hallucination, 298

Hatred, 152, 233, 263, 273, 285,

300
Havelock Ellis, 20, 22, 27, 56
Healing, 326
Hebbel, 46
Heredity, 13, 20, 29, 32, 42,

331, 338
Hermaphroditism, 25, 41
Heterosexual capacity, 175

excitation, 271

longing, 213

period, 291

persons, 223

stimuli, 312
Hirschfeld, 12, 17, 20, 22, 23,

25, 27, 30, 34, 36, 41, 61, 69,

70, 79, 81, 89, 186, 191, 245,

253, 256, 260, 261, 289, 308,

338, 339 passim, 346
Homage, 268

"Homosexual marriage," 293
House symbolism, 326
Hypnotism, 168, 192
Hypothesis, 35
Hunger, 215, 216

Ideal, 55, 56, 129, 231, 332,

333
Identification, 35, 160, 161,

314, 328, 336
Imago, 246, 303
Impotence, psychic, 67, 260,

262, 317
Impulse, 131

Inborn, 20, 23, 41, 72, 80, 245
Incest, 96, 163, 201, 207, 210,

217, 224

356

Index

Indifference, 33, 54, 244, 272,

289
Inebriety, vid. Alcoholism
Infantilism, 63, 145, 154, 162,

222, 269
Infatuation, 160, 162
Infection, 282, 284, 292
Inferiority, feeling of, 212,

336
Influence, maternal, 342
Inhibition, 49, 108, 176, 184,

187, 190, 200, 207, 213, 233,

236, 238, 242, 244, 260, 262,

274
Initiation, 202
Insanity, 248
Instability, 29
Instinct, 28, 44, 48, 311
"Instrumentum Diaholi," 291
"Intermediate Sex," 89, 245
Interpretation (dreams), 209,

325
Intoxication, psychic, 154, 158
Inversion, 69, 129
Isolation, 23

Jealousy, 188, 254, 259, 296,

299
Joint suicide, 63
Judgment-attitude, 333
Juliusburger, O., 254

Kraft-Ebing, 11, 12, 13 pas-
sim, 17, 22, 42, 48, 89, 227,
252, 256, 281, 282, 293, 296,
312, 315, 343

Kiernan, 41

Language of Dreams, 185
Late homosexuality, 89, 110,

227, 317, 319, 336
Latent, 13, 26, 57 passim, 63,

67, 79, 100, 109, 124, 172,

184, 250, 281
Libido, 56, 57, 72, 78, 88, 90,

103 164, 252 passim

Locum tenens, 259
Lombroso, 41, 45
Loneliness, 177
Longing, 162
Love dreams, 292

excitation, 310

frenzy, 291

hunger, 130

Lesbian, 280

physical, 332

Platonic, 313

preparedness, 154

prostitute, 61

spiritual, 16, 332
Lure, 234

Magic, 221

Male attitude, 296

protest, 335

hero type, 26, 27, 242
Manipulatio cum digito, 87
Mannerism, 94, 95
"Mannish" women, 24
Manual gratification, 123, 135,

257
Marriage, 89, 105, 120
Masculinity, 79
Masochism, 73, 282, 350
Masks, 61, 65, 66, 68, 80, 95
Masturbation, 11, 14 passim,

64, 81, 106, 117, 135, 140,

144, 151, 165, 178, 192, 195,

197, 213, 257, 363, 270, 286,

393, 310, 325
Mawpassant, 104
Mayer, E. V., 33
Mediation (through oppos.

sex), 62, 67
Membrum virile, 258, 260, 271,

286, 310
Memory, 47, 137, 241, 245, 308,

314
Messallna type, 66, 90, 163,

175, 228
Misogyny, 99, 272, 273
Misophilia, 267

Index

357

Moebvas, 283
Moll, 18 passim, 20, 22
Monosexuality vid. Bisexuality
Mother complex, 213, 339

Imago, 186, 246, 335
Motherly feeling, 161
Muttersehute, 230

Naecke, 20, 184, 269
Narcissism, 102, 227
"Natural" life, 333
Nausea, 226, 230, 236, 390, 303
Necrophilia, 131
Nervousness, 257, 286
"Neuropathic" constitution,

294
Neurosis, 17, 22, 27 passim.,

41 passim, 45, 48, 55, 58, 96,

106, 122, 145, 215, 223, 237,

305, 324
Nietzsche, 334
Nutrition, 216
Nymphomania, 163

Object, sexual, 11
Obsession, 113, 120
Onanism, vid. Masturbation
Ontogenesis, 45
Orgasm, 74, 82, 184, 263, 267,

281, 293
Outbreak (of H.), 223
Over-compensation, 46

determination, 327

Paranoia, 39, 95
Paraphilia, 58, 146, 156, 268
Parents, 30
Passion, 89, 97, 144
Paul, Jean, 306
Patolow, 35
Pederasty, 81
Perversion, 69, 102
Pfister, 320, 323, 326
Phallic symbol, 217

Phantasy, 70, 130, 300

Phobias, 68

Piety, 190, 200, 219, 235

Pilz, 349

Platen's Diary, 290

Plato, 56

Pollution (dream), 212, 227,

313
Polygamic neurosis, 124

tendency, 176
Potentia, 133, 217, 257, 261
Polygamy, 237
Praetorius, Numa, 250, 251
Precocity, 45 passim, 47, 318
Predisposition, 31, 34, 36, 39,

41, 290
Preference for widows, 98
Priapism, 131
Prognosis, 216
Progression, 44
Prostitute, 61, 163, 178, 184,

217, 280, 285, 316
Prostitution, 57, 85, 106, 281
Protection, vid. Defence
Pseudo-Cassanova type, 99

Homosexuality, 24, 25, 247,
308
Pseudonym, choice of, 65
Psychic Homosexuality, 85

Urge, 183
Psycho-Analysis, 26, 27, 39,

47, 70, 109, 150, 158, 172,

190, 202, 225, 241, 244, 248,

268, 284, 300, 312, 328, 338
Psychosis, 58

Puberty, 31, 33, 124, 291, 294
Pursuit, 186, 191

Quest for sexual object, 164,
172
father, 312
Questionnaire, 255 passim, 348

Rationalization, 72, 247
Reality, 60
Recessive type, 45

358

Index

Regression, 236
Relations, Platonic, 177
Religion, 218, 237
Religio-Sexual motives, 222
Remorse, 167, 214
Repetition, 327
Repression, 28, 39 passim, 43,

47, 49, 70, 225, 243, 271, 272,

315, 325
Reproach, 207
Research, sexual, 12
Resistance, 145, 153, 238, 245
Betif de la Bretowne, 99, 100,

111
Retrogression, 41, 45, 331
Retrospective tendency, 334
Revenge, 154, 168, 207
Reversed love, 152
Right and Left (symbolism),

130
Roemer, V., 32
RSle of family, 172
Rousseau, 95

Sade, Marquis de, 283
Badger, 245, 314, 337, 346
Sadism, 49, 131, 263, 272, 274
Satyriasis, 131 passim, 152,

154, 160, 250
Schmitz, O. A. H., 98, 100,

124
Schopenhauer, 283
Scorn, 218, 319
Secret pride, 213
Seduction, 99, 101, 160, 167,

253, 268, 285, 312
Sensuality, 165
Sexual object, 98, 103
Shakespeare, 46
Shyness, 177, 302, 310
Sister, attitude towards, 169

Imago, 223
Situs Inversus, 82, 84, 284
Starvation, 215
Stekel, 48
Stier, 12

Strimdberg, 283

Struggle, 236

Sublimation, 39, 40, 49, 130,

271
Substitution, 187, 211
Succubus, 71, 161
Suicide, 105
Suppressed instincts, 96
Suspicion, 149
Symbol, 60, 81, 91, 129, 145,

211, 323
Symptomatic acts, 129
Syphilidophobia, vid. Fear of

syphilis

Tarnowsky, 246, 247
Taste, 97

Temptation, 147, 164, 196
Tendency, 55, 89, 176

prospective, 222
Tension, sexual, 32
Therapy, 244
"Third" sex, 24
Timidity, 345
Touch, 252

Traits, male and female, 73,
94, 124

neurotic, 96
Transference, 88, 111, 153, 211
Transitional types, 103, 175
Transvestite, 69, 70, 336
Trauma, 23, 42, 119, 172, 196,

236, 238, 293, 297, 302, 305,

309, 320, 326, 327

Ulrichs, 36
Unconscious, 35

wish, 209
Undifferentiated, 31
Ungratifled libido, 129
Urlind, 30, 78, 284, 297, 333,

341
Vrning, 81, 333, 339, 341, 345
Urolagnia, 312

Index

359

Van Teslaar, 44, 46

Variation, biologic, 20

Virchoiv, 20

Virgo intacta, 154

Virility, 100, 125

Vita Sextialis, 73, 145, 178,

270, 287, 300, 321
Vomiting, symptomatic, 199,

230

Warning, 260
Weininger, 283, 346
Westphal, 19

Whip (sadism), 265
"Will to power," 337
Wish, 35, 38, 292, 325, 336

fulfillment, 214
Witches, fear of, 221
Woman, aggressive, 30, 350
"Womanly" men, 24
"World pain," 334
Worry, 181

Ziemcke, 286
Zvmchenstuffen, 25
-theorw, 245

RATIONAL SEX SERIES

Bi-Sexual Love, The Homosexual
Neurosis, by Dr. William Steckel,
Authorized Translation by James 8.
Van Teslaar

Sex and Dreams, The Language of
Dreams, by Dr. William 8<teckel, Aii*-
thorized Translation by James 8.
Van Teslaar

Sex and the Senses, by James 8. Van
Teslaar

Sex Repression, Inhibition and Fri-
gidity, by James 8. Van Teslaar

The Laws of Sex, by Edith H. Hooker^

Motherhood, by H. W. Long, M.D.

Children by Chance or by Choice, by
William Hawley Smith

Sex in Psycho-Analysis, by 8. Fe-
renezi, M.D.

History and Practice of Psychanaly-
sis, by Poul Bjerre, M.D.

Temperament and Sex, by Walter
Heaton

Sex and Society, by W. I. Thomas

RICHARD G. BADGER, PUBLISHER, BOSTON